The enterostomal therapy nurse and artificial intelligence: ethics, clinical judgment and decision-making

Abstract

Objective: To analyze how the incorporation of artificial intelligence into enterostomal therapy influences clinical judgment, decision-making, and the ethical foundations of specialized care. Method: A theoretical essay based on a critical analysis of recent scientific literature on artificial intelligence in healthcare, with an emphasis on generative models, computer vision systems, bioethics, and data protection. Results: Artificial intelligence enhances analytical capacity and assessment accuracy but introduces risks related to uncritical reliance on automated recommendations, reduced patient autonomy, and the inappropriate handling of sensitive data, particularly clinical images. Conclusion: Artificial intelligence can contribute to safer, higher-quality decisions when used as a support tool under human supervision, clinical discernment, and ethical responsibility, reaffirming the role of the enterostomal therapy nurse as a critical interpreter of technology and a guardian of autonomy, privacy, and humanized care.