CARE-AI Framework

Technology is only as ethical as the hands, and hearts, that guide it.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming society but this is especially being felt in healthcare — enhancing diagnosis, streamlining workflows, and changing how professionals teach and learn. With these changes bring new challenges: How do we use AI responsibly? What does professionalism look like in an AI-enabled world? And how do we ensure that technology serves people — not the other way around?

Backed by rigorous research, the Health CARE-AI Framework (Contextual, Accountable and Responsible Ethics for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare) was developed to answer those questions. It provides ethical guidance for using AI in ways that are safe, equitable, transparent, and professional across all stages of health professions education and practice.

Health CARE-AI Framework

Our Research Process

Foundation Building

Phase 1

Foundation Building

Spring/Summer 2024

Adaptation of 2011 social media professionalism guidelines to create a draft set of AI professionalism principles.

International Dialogue

Phase 2

International Dialogue

Fall 2024

Draft principles refined through workshops at 2 major conferences: Academy for Professionalism in Health Care (APHC) and The International Summit on Leadership Education for Physicians (TISLEP), which focused on the ethical integration of AI in healthcare education.

Expert Focus Groups

Phase 3

Expert Focus Groups

Winter 2024–2025

Iterative focus groups with leading voices from AI/technology, health equity, and interprofessional education. These conversations helped surface gaps, clarify concepts, and identify real-world applications.

Modified Delphi Consensus

Phase 4

Modified Delphi Consensus

Spring 2025

A structured Delphi process was undertaken to further validate the principles. Using multiple rounds of anonymous rating and feedback, the Health CARE-AI principles were refined and finalized.

Health CARE-AI Framework

What Makes Health CARE-AI Different?

The result is a research-backed framework that bridges the gap between policy and practice. It offers a common language to help professionals, educators, and institutions work together to shape an AI-integrated healthcare system that is ethical, inclusive, and trustworthy.

  • It is interprofessional and future-focused, designed for all career stages — from students to system leaders.

  • It centers equity, transparency, and human judgment in AI use.

  • It supports both individual ethics and institutional responsibility.

Health CARE-AI Framework

Health CARE-AI Principles

The Health CARE-AI framework contains 9 professionalism principles with a focus on challenges posed by AI technologies. These principles apply to individuals across all career stages, from training to practice, emphasizing critical thinking, ethical behaviour, and continual learning as AI technologies continually evolve.

Principle #1

Responsible AI use is both an individual and collective duty.

Principle #2

Build and maintain AI literacy.

Principle #3

Responsible AI use should complement, not replace, human judgment.

Principle #4

Think critically before speaking, acting, or uploading with an AI system present.

Principle #5

Use AI with honesty and integrity.

Principle #6

Work within the law.

Principle #7

Use and share information ethically in AI-supported environments.

Principle #8

Use AI in ways that actively reduce bias and promote equity.

Principle #9

Build equity into AI foundations.

Past Events

Beyond Theory: Turning CARE-AI into Action

From Principles to Practice: Why Application Matters or Beyond Theory: Turning CARE-AI into Action

The CARE-AI principles are most impactful when applied to real-world situations. This framework is designed to help individuals and teams move from theory to action and provide them with an opportunity to examine the complexities of AI use in education and learning and to practice settings.

These principles are not rules to follow, but tools to guide one’s thinking.

Funding provided by the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine AI Seed Grant and the Future Skills program to support this work.

  • CARE-AI Symposium and Think Shop
    June 9, 2025 via Zoom Events

    • Symposium 1:00-2:00 ET
    • Think Shop 2:00-4:00 ET
Past event

This event is part of the Fostering Equity and Inclusion in Healthcare by Accelerating Responsible Use of Artificial project funded by the Government of Canada under the Future Skills program. Cet événement fait partie du projet Favoriser l’équité et l’inclusion dans les soins de santé en accélérant l’utilisation responsable de l’intelligence artificielle financé par le gouvernement du Canada dans le cadre du programme Compétences future.

Health CARE-AI Framework

Funding

Funding for this work is provided in part by:

Foundation Building

University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine AI Seed Fund

International Dialogue

Future Skills Centre

FSC awarded funding to University Health Network for the project entitled: “Fostering Equity and Inclusion in Healthcare by Accelerating Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence”. The Health CARE-AI Framework is part of this project.

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Non-Endorsement Disclaimer

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