We are delighted to welcome Dr. Bryan Pilkington, PhD, Professor of Bioethics at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, USA, to our Winter School, December 14-19, 2026, Online – “Bioethics in a New World Order” – where he will present “Artificial Conscience: On AI, Accountability, and Resolving Disagreement.”

ARTIFICIAL CONSCIENCE: ON AI, ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESOLVING DISAGREEMENT

ABSTRACT

Disagreements arise between artificial intelligence systems and health professionals in the course of caring for patients. Though there may come a time when such divergences are easily reconcilable or no longer occur, there is a current need for procedures to resolve such differences. In this presentation, models for resolving disagreement between Al systems and health professionals are offered and evaluated. It is argued that structural and other external features of both Al systems and healthcare delivery must be considered in order to understand how best to remedy potential divergences in assessment, judgment, and determinations of health professionals and those systems. The framework articulated is to be applied in a time where much is in flux and so represents work in
“transition ethics.” The presentation will rely on research that appears in The Medical Act: Conscientious Practice in a World of Dissention and Disagreement (forthcoming from Springer in 2025).

BIO

Bryan Pilkington, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences and Health Administration at Seton Hall University. With a strong focus on bioethics and moral and political philosophy, his research delves into topics such as conscience, moral responsibility, healthcare practice ethics, and the concept of dignity. Dr.
Pilkington’s expertise extends to teaching courses on ethical challenges in medicine, normative and applied ethics, and various branches of philosophy. He holds multiple appointments and affiliations, including serving on editorial boards and being a Junior Scholar in Bioethics at the Paul Ramsey Institute. With a notable academic background and accolades, Dr. Pilkington brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role as an esteemed scholar and educator.