Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site cadre.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!idis!cadre!geb From: geb@cadre.UUCP Newsgroups: net.ai Subject: re: liability for expert systems Message-ID: <57@cadre.UUCP> Date: Sat, 6-Oct-84 11:51:42 EDT Article-I.D.: cadre.57 Posted: Sat Oct 6 11:51:42 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 8-Oct-84 02:14:37 EDT Organization: Decision Systems Lab., Univ. of Pgh. Lines: 20 This is a subject that we are quite interested in as we develop medical expert systems. There has been no court case nor precedent nor law covering placement of blame in the cases of errors in expert systems. The natural analogy would be medical textbooks. As far as I know, no author of a textbook has been found liable for errors that resulted in mistreatment of a patient. Therefore, the logical liability should lie with the treating physician to properly apply the knowledge. Having said this, it is best to recognize that customs such as this were developed in a much different society of 100 years ago. Now every possible person in a case is considered fair game and undoubtedly until a court rules or legislation is passed, you must consider yourself at risk if you distribute an expert system. Unfortunately, there is no malpractice insurance available for programmers and you will find a clause in just about any other insurance that you might carry that states that the insurance you have doesn't cover any lawsuits stemming from the practice of your profession. Sorry.