{"id":7664,"date":"2025-08-25T15:22:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T15:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-who-bears-the-liability-a-focus-on-surrogacy\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T01:24:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T01:24:31","slug":"artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-who-bears-liability-on-surrogacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-who-bears-liability-on-surrogacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Who Bears the Liability? A Focus on Surrogacy"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction_AI_and_the_Future_of_Healthcare\"><\/span>Introduction: AI and the Future of Healthcare<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare worldwide. From early cancer detection to robotic surgeries and predictive analytics, AI is now a critical tool in hospitals and clinics. In India, AI is also entering the sensitive domain of reproductive medicine, particularly in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy procedures. While this promises improved success rates for childless couples, it also raises a crucial question: when AI goes wrong, who bears the liability?<\/div>\n<div>This question is at the heart of medical law, and it is one that every healthcare provider, policymaker, and medical law lawyer must grapple with.<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Understanding_Liability_in_AI-Driven_Medicine_under_Medical_Law\"><\/span>Understanding Liability in AI-Driven Medicine under Medical Law<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>AI applications in healthcare range from diagnostic support to treatment planning. In reproductive medicine, AI can:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Analyze embryos for genetic viability.<\/li>\n<li>Predict pregnancy success rates.<\/li>\n<li>Assess surrogate mothers for medical and psychological fitness.<\/li>\n<li>Forecast potential complications during pregnancy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>While these innovations enhance efficiency, they are not error-proof. Algorithms may produce false positives, overlook risks, or rely on biased datasets. If a surrogate mother is wrongly declared fit for pregnancy or an embryo with genetic risks is implanted, the consequences can be devastating.<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surrogacy_Laws_in_India_and_the_Role_of_AI\"><\/span><a href=\"\/legal\/article-18877-surrogacy-and-its-impact-on-surrogates.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Surrogacy Laws in India and the Role of AI<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>India regulates surrogacy under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 and assisted reproduction under the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021. These laws restrict surrogacy to altruistic arrangements and impose strict medical and legal screenings.<\/div>\n<div>AI technologies are increasingly being used to:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Screen surrogate mothers for physical and psychological health.<\/li>\n<li>Select embryos with the highest chances of survival and healthy development.<\/li>\n<li>Predict risks during pregnancy and delivery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>While the Acts provide frameworks for eligibility, they do not address the role of AI in these processes. For instance:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>If AI misclassifies a surrogate as healthy, leading to complications, can she claim damages?<\/li>\n<li>If commissioning parents lose money and time due to AI errors in embryo selection, what remedies do they have?<\/li>\n<li>How can clinics protect themselves against liability while still using advanced AI tools?<\/li>\n<li>Here again, the gap between technological progress and medical law becomes evident.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>AI in surrogacy raises broader ethical and legal concerns:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Informed Consent \u2013 Surrogates and commissioning parents must understand that AI is involved in decision-making. But how \u201cinformed\u201d can consent be when even doctors may not fully understand the inner workings of complex AI systems?<\/li>\n<li>Bias and Discrimination \u2013 AI learns from past data. If that data reflects biases (economic, gender, or social), it may discriminate against certain surrogates or embryos.<\/li>\n<li>Privacy and Data Protection \u2013 Fertility clinics handle highly sensitive reproductive and genetic data. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 offers some safeguards, but specific provisions for reproductive health data are still lacking.<\/li>\n<li>Unclear Accountability \u2013 Neither the surrogacy laws nor general healthcare regulations currently define who is responsible when AI errors harm patients or surrogates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_a_Medical_Law_Lawyer_Can_Help_in_AI_and_Surrogacy_Disputes\"><\/span>How a <a href=\"\/lawyers\/lawyers_home.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Medical Law Lawyer<\/a> Can Help in AI and Surrogacy Disputes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>As AI expands, the role of medical law lawyers becomes critical. They are not only advocates in litigation but also advisors shaping policy. Their expertise helps in:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Drafting contracts between clinics, commissioning parents, and surrogates that allocate liability clearly.<\/li>\n<li>Advising healthcare providers on risk management and insurance against AI-related errors.<\/li>\n<li>Representing patients, surrogates, or families in cases of AI-induced harm.<\/li>\n<li>Engaging in policy advocacy to ensure that laws like the Surrogacy Act are updated to account for AI.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>Without legal clarity, disputes may rise sharply, leading to delays in justice and mistrust in both medicine and technology.<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Balancing_Innovation_with_Legal_Safeguards\"><\/span>Balancing Innovation with Legal Safeguards<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>AI has immense potential to transform healthcare, particularly in sensitive fields like surrogacy. By improving embryo selection and surrogate screening, it offers hope to countless families. Yet, every innovation comes with risks. Without proper legal frameworks, patients, surrogates, and even doctors remain vulnerable.<\/div>\n<div>The pressing question\u2014who bears the liability when AI fails in healthcare, cannot remain unanswered. Through updated medical law, careful regulation, and the expertise of a skilled medical law lawyer, India can strike the right balance: fostering innovation while protecting rights.<\/div>\n<div>AI should be a tool of empowerment, not uncertainty. The law must evolve to ensure just that.<b>Reference:<\/b><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-who-bears-liability-on-surrogacy\/#Introduction_AI_and_the_Future_of_Healthcare\" >Introduction: AI and the Future of Healthcare<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-who-bears-liability-on-surrogacy\/#Understanding_Liability_in_AI-Driven_Medicine_under_Medical_Law\" >Understanding Liability in AI-Driven Medicine under Medical Law<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-who-bears-liability-on-surrogacy\/#Surrogacy_Laws_in_India_and_the_Role_of_AI\" >Surrogacy Laws in India and the Role of AI<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-who-bears-liability-on-surrogacy\/#How_a_Medical_Law_Lawyer_Can_Help_in_AI_and_Surrogacy_Disputes\" >How a Medical Law Lawyer Can Help in AI and Surrogacy Disputes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-who-bears-liability-on-surrogacy\/#Balancing_Innovation_with_Legal_Safeguards\" >Balancing Innovation with Legal Safeguards<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<ul>\n<li>https:\/\/foresightlaw.in\/blog\/surrogacy-in-india-constitutional-challenges-and-legislative-progress\/<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Artificial Intelligence is transforming healthcare, especially in surrogacy and reproductive medicine. While it improves embryo selection and surrogate screening, it raises legal concerns about liability, consent, and data protection. Clearer medical law frameworks and guidance from a skilled medical law lawyer are essential to balance innovation with accountability and safeguard the rights of patients and surrogates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":331,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[87],"tags":[454,24,966,28],"class_list":{"0":"post-7664","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-medico-legal","7":"tag-artificial-intelligence","8":"tag-just-in","9":"tag-surrogacy-law","10":"tag-top-news"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7664","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7664"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7664\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7664"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}