{
  "id": 7759067,
  "title": "AI in health must be done in a ‘European way,’ without replacing doctors, von der Leyen says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ai-in-health-must-be-done-in-a-european-way-without-replacing-doctors",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-16T09:39:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/health/2026/09/16/ai-in-health-must-be-done-in-a-european-way-without-replacing-doctors-von-der-leyen-says"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "During her annual State of the European Union speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, but stressed that it should never replace human doctors. Von der Leyen, who is also a former doctor, highlighted how AI-supported tools can enhance patient care, particularly in early cancer detection. She pointed out that AI-assisted mammography can identify cancer more effectively, leading to improved survival rates for affected individuals. The President acknowledged the significance of early detection in cancer treatment and noted that several studies and clinical trials support the efficacy of AI in this domain. While recognizing the potential of AI in healthcare, von der Leyen remained adamant about preserving the essential role of human doctors. She warned that despite the advances in AI technology, doctors should not be replaced by machines. She cautioned that language models, which rely on AI, may pose risks when providing medical advice, as they often fail to accurately assess the urgency of a situation. Additionally, experts have raised concerns about the sensitivity of biological data and the urgent need for comprehensive legal frameworks governing AI access to such information. The World Health Organization (WHO) echoed these concerns in a recent report, emphasizing that only 8% of member states have developed a national health-specific AI strategy. This shortcoming, according to the WHO, underscores the critical need for immediate action to ensure that AI is developed and implemented in a responsible and beneficial manner. In response to these challenges, von der Leyen announced several \"game-changing initiatives\" aimed at harnessing the potential of AI across key sectors, including health, transport, agriculture, manufacturing, and defense. These initiatives, set to be unveiled in November, aim to maximize the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks, thereby ensuring that Europe benefits from this transformative technology in a \"European way.\"",
  "summary": "AI can improve healthcare in Europe, but must never replace doctors, the EU’s Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her State of the Union speech today.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}