A Hidden Risk: Lessons from Colonoscopy
Rana Abdel Malak, PhD, CPXP, CGNC, NEA-BC, FAAPM
August 19, 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming medicine at an unprecedented pace. From diagnostics to treatment planning, AI promises enhanced accuracy, efficiency, and patient outcomes. However, a newly published study in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology (August 2025) raises an urgent cautionary flag about an underappreciated risk: overreliance on AI could lead to the eroding (or deskilling) of healthcare professionals, with potentially harmful consequences for patients.
The study investigated skilled endoscopists performing colonoscopies with and without AI assistance. While AI-assisted colonoscopy improved detection rates of precancerous polyps, continuous exposure to AI resulted in a significant decline in detection ability during non-AI-assisted procedures. The adenoma detection rate dropped by 20% after AI exposure—an alarming finding that suggests frequent dependency on AI might erode clinicians’ core diagnostic skills.
This phenomenon, known as automation bias or deskilling, has been observed in other domains but is only now confirmed with clinical data. The consequences are profound: if clinicians lose proficiency due to heavy AI reliance, patient outcomes could suffer, especially if AI tools become unavailable.
How do we balance AI’s immense benefits with safeguarding human expertise?
Retention of core skills: Medical education and continuous development must emphasize maintaining fundamental clinical skills alongside AI use.
Monitoring and evaluation: Institutions should track clinical performance both with and without AI to detect deskilling early.
AI as assistant, not crutch: AI should augment, not replace, decision-making. Interfaces must encourage active engagement and critical evaluation of AI outputs.
Contingency planning: Clinicians must be tested periodically without AI to ensure skills remain sharp and patient care remains safe.
The promise of AI in medicine is undeniable. Yet, the findings from this study remind us that technology is a double-edged sword. To truly benefit patients, we must ensure AI complements—not compromises—our essential clinical expertise.
This is where MEDHEALTH PRO solutions come into play. MEDHEALTH PRO helps healthcare facilities maintain clinician proficiency in AI-powered environments. It offers targeted professional development and provides contingency support plans to safeguard human expertise—ensuring AI acts as a true partner in enhancing patient care without diminishing clinician skill.
Start a conversation with MEDHEALTH PRO on how we can responsibly integrate AI in healthcare together!
More information: Endoscopist deskilling risk after exposure to artificial intelligence in colonoscopy: A multicentre, observational study, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/S2468-1253(25)00133-5.