Artificial intelligence may soon decide patient access to healthcare if legal reform passes

A proposed legal change by the Finnish government would allow artificial intelligence to assess patients’ need for treatment, a task currently performed exclusively by trained healthcare professionals, Yle reports.

The draft legislation, set for public consultation before being submitted to parliament next autumn, has drawn mixed reactions from healthcare providers. While private healthcare giant Mehiläinen argues the reform would streamline care and free up staff time, the Finnish Medical Association opposes the plan, warning that AI could make dangerous errors and overlook patient concerns.

AI already assists nurses in triage
In western Finland’s Länsi-Pohja region, an AI-powered callback system has been in use for six months, summarising patient voice messages for nurses. Aila Ramlin, chief nurse at Länsi-Pohja’s primary healthcare, said the tool has improved efficiency and staff wellbeing by allowing nurses to prepare for calls in advance.

Mehiläinen, which operates public healthcare services in the region, is investing heavily in AI development. Petja Orre, the company’s primary care director, said AI could initially handle routine tasks like summarising patient-provider conversations and documenting them in medical records—under professional oversight.

Controversy over decision-making authority
The proposed law would grant AI the power to determine whether a patient requires urgent care, non-urgent care, or self-treatment, and to direct them to the appropriate unit. Orre emphasised that EU regulations on AI and medical devices ensure strict safety standards, adding that structured AI tools could reduce human errors in assessments.

However, the Finnish Medical Association has demanded clarity on accountability for AI-driven decisions, arguing that automated systems may fail to recognise nuanced patient needs. Critics also question whether AI can adequately replace human judgment in complex cases.

Mehiläinen maintains that professionals would still review AI assessments in many scenarios, with Orre stressing that the technology aims to support—not replace—clinical staff.