Algorithmic Triage and the Duty of Care: Ethical Frameworks for AI-Assisted Medical Prioritisation

As NHS trusts pilot AI triage systems to manage post-pandemic waiting lists, fundamental questions arise about accountability, bias, and the erosion of clinical judgement. This essay examines three competing ethical frameworks—utilitarian efficiency, Rawlsian fairness, and virtue ethics—and argues that current deployment practices inadequately address the duty of care owed to patients from marginalised communities. We propose a governance model centred on interpretable AI and mandatory human override mechanisms.