Calculating Survival: The Impact of Mortality Predictors on Medical Decision-Making

Abstract: This panel features results from a 5-year federally (AHRQ) funded engaged bioethics research project examining the impact of an algorithm-based personalized risk calculator for survival prediction in advanced heart failure patients considering left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy. Speakers will report findings related to patient perspectives and reactions to the personalized risk information in high stakes medical decision-making, offering a window into the practical application of algorithm-based survival and mortality predictor tools in healthcare settings. In addition, we will discuss ethical and normative considerations related to patient understanding and its impact on informed consent, as well as the implications for the right to notice and explanation of artificial intelligence (AI) in health given the rise of algorithm-based predictor tools in the healthcare space. Our interdisciplinary team combines the perspectives of various fields including bioethics, philosophy, and medical anthropology, offering us a unique approach to convey practical insights gleaned from our experience and research on the implementation of one such tool.