Specialists in health, ethics, technology and public policy gathered on 19 November at the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Centre in Bordeaux for an international conference dedicated to exploring the impact and opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) in palliative care.
The event, organised by Gérontopôle Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Bordeaux University Hospital with the support of the partner organisations of the Interreg Sudoe European project HENKO NET, brought together around 85 professionals from France, Spain and Portugal.
The day began with the official opening by Philippe Nauche, Vice-President of the New Aquitaine Region responsible for health and the silver economy, Raquel Losada, coordinator of the European HENKO NET project at the INTRASS Foundation, and representatives of the organising entities.
The conference featured 15 international speakers who shared their vision and proposals through four round tables. The first table discussed the opportunities offered by AI, its potential and the expectations of the sector. Julien Carretier, Amaia Robles Aranguiz, Valérie Bergua, and Fátima González Palau took part, contributing their experiences and reflections based on an analysis of the current situation, where in France ‘70% of people who died in the last year were over 75 years old and 75% of deaths were due to advanced chronic diseases’.
The second panel, dedicated to AI implementation strategies, featured Professor Gayo Diallo, Dr Jeremy Pasco, Dr Vianney Jouhet, and Professor Patrícia Coelho. They shared up-to-date information on the European and local reality in data management and the challenges posed by its sustainability, which will require ‘global solutions rather than a pay-per-use model’ and ‘the integration of a logic of collective transformation’.
In the afternoon, key figures in ethical and scientific reflection on AI took the floor. Brigitte Seroussi, Véronique Averousy and María Jesús Goikoetxea Iturregui highlighted the need to ensure the responsible development of digital tools that respect the dignity of people receiving palliative care and adequately support healthcare teams. A ‘technology that cannot replace the compassionate person’ and that it is necessary to ensure that “its contribution is integrated into the nature and definition of palliative care.
The final block of the day focused on how to integrate AI into public palliative care policies. Caroline Receveur, Dr Julian Illiana, Jean-François Cornet and Laurence de Peyrelongue took part. There was an intense open debate between the audience and the panellists on far-reaching issues.
The conference, which featured simultaneous translation, concluded at 5 p.m. with a message from Ambre Laplaud of GERONTOPOLE, who highlighted the current context and the need to continue collaborating on the construction of a solid and transparent regulatory framework that allows for the development of innovative models while guaranteeing the ethical principles established for end-of-life care.
You can access the full summary of the day’s events: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gWMTcvXn