RCSI today launched a major new report providing a comprehensive framework to guide the safe, ethical and effective integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across surgical practice in Ireland.

The report, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Surgery, developed by an RCSI Short Life Working Group appointed by RCSI President Professor Deborah McNamara and chaired by Professor Micheál Ó Ríordáin sets out how AI and digital technologies will transform the future of surgical care, training and patient experience.

It highlights the significant potential for AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve surgical precision, optimise clinical decision-making and enable more personalised patient care. It also addresses critical challenges, including patient safety, governance, regulation, bias and workforce readiness.

The report emphasises the need for strong clinical leadership, robust governance structures and sustained investment in education and training to ensure surgeons are equipped to work effectively in a digitally enabled healthcare environment.

Launching the report, Professor Deborah McNamara, President of RCSI, said: “Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are advancing at an unprecedented pace and are set to fundamentally reshape the delivery of surgical care, the training of our workforce and the experience of patients. This report provides a clear and balanced roadmap, embracing innovation while ensuring patient safety, ethical practice and the continued central role of the surgeon in clinical decision-making.”

The report outlines how AI can support surgeons across the full patient journey, from earlier diagnosis and improved operative planning to enhanced intra-operative guidance, post-operative monitoring and ‘hospital at home’ models of care. It also highlights the growing role of technologies such as robotics, augmented reality and data-driven clinical decision support systems.

However, the report underscores that AI must be deployed as a support tool rather than a replacement for clinical expertise, advocating for a 'human in the loop' approach to maintain accountability, safeguard patient trust and ensure optimal outcomes.

Professor Micheál Ó Ríordáin, Chair of the Working Group on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Surgery, said: “Artificial intelligence and digital technologies have the potential to significantly enhance the quality, efficiency and accessibility of surgical care. They should be seen as tools to augment the surgeon’s role, enabling better diagnosis, more precise treatments and more streamlined care pathways. However, their implementation must be carefully governed to ensure they are safe, trustworthy, transparent and aligned with the needs of patients.”

The report makes a series of key recommendations, including:

• Embedding AI and digital medicine as core components of surgical education and training.
• Establishing robust governance and regulatory frameworks across the health system.
• Strengthening data governance, cybersecurity and ethical oversight.
• Supporting surgeons with the skills needed to evaluate and safely adopt new technologies.
• Positioning RCSI as a central leader in policy development, research and innovation in this rapidly evolving field.

It also calls for closer collaboration between clinicians, healthcare providers, policymakers, regulators, industry partners and patients to ensure AI is implemented in a way that delivers meaningful benefits while mitigating risks.

You can read the report in full here.