Google is teaming with the United Kingdom’s National Health Service to develop new technologies to make it easier for doctors in Oregon and worldwide to diagnose two common eye diseases. The project is a collaboration between DeepMind, Google’s artificial intelligence division, and Moorsfield Eye Hospital in London.
Worldwide, more than 100 million people suffer from diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, but between 10 and 20 percent of all cases are misdiagnosed. This is because doctors currently use inefficient evaluation methods, including interviewing patients and analyzing individual medical charts. To reduce cases of misdiagnosis, DeepMind is trying to create an artificial intelligence algorithm that can detect early warning signs of both diseases. Early detection is critical for positive outcomes, particularly for diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes is the top cause of blindness among working age populations, but early intervention can prevent 98 percent of severe vision loss related to the disease.
Moorfields Eye Hospital will test DeepMind’s algorithms against a million anonymous optical coherence tomography scans to see whether the technology can diagnose eye conditions. DeepMind previously worked with the NHS on an app that is supposed to identity patients at risk for kidney failure. That app is still being tested.
A failure to diagnose a degenerative eye disease could lead to a worsened condition or even blindness. Those who have been harmed in such a manner may want to meet with a medical malpractice attorney to discuss the advisability of filing a lawsuit against the responsible health care practitioner or facility. Damages sought could include medical expenses, lost wages and other applicable amounts.