Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Legal, Ethical, and Compliance Implications for Responsible Decision-making

Abstract

The delivery of medical services has changed as a result of the quick integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into global healthcare systems. Still, it has also brought up difficult ethical, legal, and regulatory issues. This study examined the ramifications in relation to Nigeria's healthcare system, highlighting the need for accountable and open decision-making. Two hundred participants, including IT specialists, policy experts, and healthcare practitioners in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, were given standardized questionnaires as part of a quantitative study design. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate 182 valid replies out of the total. According to the findings, Nigeria's use of AI technologies is still hampered by lax legislative frameworks, unclear ethical standards, and insufficient data protection compliance, even though these technologies are being used more and more for administrative efficiency and diagnostic help. Concerns around algorithmic bias, patient privacy, and the lack of clear accountability for AI-related failures were raised by respondents. The study concludes that strong ethical governance, legally binding standards, and ongoing human oversight are necessary for the proper application of AI in healthcare. Policy implications emphasize the pressing need for professional training on AI ethics, enhanced institutional capacity, and a national AI health strategy. By integrating AI ethics and compliance into the Nigerian healthcare environment, the study contributes to the existing body of literature. It also provides policymakers with a framework for striking a balance between technical innovation and moral and legal accountability.