Hahn M, Samhammer D, Tretter M, Dabrock P (2026)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article, Original article
Publication year: 2026
Book Volume: 13
Pages Range: 884
DOI: 10.1057/s41599-026-07957-8
The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on clinical decision-making has become a focal point within a multitude of ethical, legal, and social discussions. Examining concrete use cases reveals that the introduction of an AI-system as a new actant in clinical practice changes the whole context with its relationships, roles, and routines. To better understand these changes, an interpretative framework can help to trace such transformations and uncover their ethical implications. In Science and Technology Studies (STS), a well-known approach is the application of Actor-Network-Theory (ANT) to concrete phenomena, including in the field of medicine. We aim to build on this established approach by developing a normative framework informed by ANT. To this end, we derive evaluation questions from Latour’s four meanings of mediation: translation to ask what goals should be pursued, composition to evaluate who should be involved, reversible blackboxing to specify how the different actants should be involved, and delegation to reflect on who should be responsible. These questions can thus inform the governance of AI-systems in medicine and contribute to their responsible implementation.
APA:
Hahn, M., Samhammer, D., Tretter, M., & Dabrock, P. (2026). An actor-network-theory informed normative framework for the governance of AI-systems in medicine. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 13, 884. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-07957-8
MLA:
Hahn, Michael, et al. "An actor-network-theory informed normative framework for the governance of AI-systems in medicine." Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 13 (2026): 884.
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