FDA Should Identify AI Legislative Changes: GAO
FDA should identify and document specific changes it seeks to its statutory authorities that would enable it to take the actions it determines best to oversee artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)-enabled medical devices, a new Government Accountability Office report recommends. It says that once FDA has decided what regulatory authorities are needed for this growing segment of medical devices then it should communicate these to Congress for legislative action.
“Members of Congress are currently considering enhancing oversight of AI, including in medical devices, and congressional members have discussed barriers with FDA,” the report notes. “However, FDA has not clearly identified, documented, and communicated to Congress the specific legislative changes that would help it address these challenges. Without this information, Congress may not be able to appropriately update FDA's authorities, and FDA may miss opportunities to fully realize the public health benefits of this technology.”