The National Nurses United, the largest labor union representing nurses in the United States, has published an AI bill of rights on behalf of nurses and patients. The bill of rights expresses concerns about the potential impact of certain technologies on healthcare. The union is particularly concerned about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and its potential to replace human nurses. The bill of rights calls for transparency, accountability, and ethical guidelines in the development and implementation of AI in healthcare. The union emphasizes the importance of maintaining the human touch in patient care and ensuring that AI is used as a tool to support nurses and enhance patient outcomes, rather than replace human caregivers [362719b1].
In a related development, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace [117bd5f6]. The FAB provides guidance on the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), nursing employee protections, and the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) in relation to AI and automated systems. The DOL emphasizes the importance of human oversight to ensure compliance with federal labor standards. Employers are reminded to use appropriate oversight to accurately track hours worked, breaks, minimum wage, and overtime. The FMLA must be complied with regardless of the use of AI or automated systems. Employers should also avoid adverse actions against nursing employees for exercising their rights and refrain from using AI to retaliate against workers. The FAB serves as a reminder to employers to review their practices to ensure compliance with labor laws [117bd5f6].