Osler News

Advances in AI and machine learning could lead to better health care: lawyers – Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health Sciences

Jun 15, 2022 2 MIN READ
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Chad Bayne

Partner, Emerging and High Growth Companies, Toronto

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have become an essential part of the commercial mainstream and are beginning to play an increasingly prominent role in the health care sector. In a recent article in Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health Sciences, writer Zena Olijnyk explores some of the ways AI and machine learning are being applied in health care and discusses the balance that must be struck between using AI technology to its fullest potential and ensuring that privacy and data use concerns are taken into account. Olijnyk turns to Chad Bayne, a partner in Osler’s Emerging and High Growth Companies Group, for insight into the topic.

“We’ve been seeing the crossover between information technology companies and health-care-related companies applying AI and machine learning to solve health-care-related problems,” Chad offers by way of background. He further explains that the areas of application range from medical devices and therapeutics, to patient management and triage.

Chad also weighs in on the issue of how the data obtained by AI systems is used and the possible need for consent. He points out that organizations holding data often allow access to it based on its use being non-commercial. “But as soon as it crosses into the realm of potentially being used commercially, that could open up the need to go back and get informed consent.”

He explains that when he’s advising clients – often startups and venture capital funds – he asks lots of questions to develop a clear picture of what the data is, how it will be used and whether the proposed innovation will improve the standard of care. “Will it increase life expectantly significantly? Will it improve the quality of life? Will it make a patient more comfortable?”  

To learn more, read Zena Olijnyk’s full article “Advances in AI and machine learning could lead to better health care: lawyers” in Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health Sciences from June 15, 2022.  

People Mentioned
Chad Bayne

Partner, Emerging and High Growth Companies, Toronto