First Lady Pich Chanmony urged healthcare professionals to adopt artificial intelligence for faster, more accurate diagnosis and treatment, while insisting that technology must never override a doctor's conscience and ethics. She spoke July 4 at the opening of the 2nd Annual Dental Conference in Phnom Penh, an event that drew dentists, medical experts, students and other stakeholders under the theme "Promoting the Implementation of Advanced Dental Techniques."
Chanmony, vice-chair of the Samdech Techo Youth Volunteer Doctors Association, praised the conference as a platform for sharing knowledge and improving healthcare services. She said such gatherings strengthen the quality of care for citizens and support the country's human capital development.
AI as a clinical assistant, not a substitute
Chanmony encouraged the use of AI to assist with diagnosis and treatment planning, noting it can help clinicians work more quickly and accurately. She stressed that the technology must be deployed responsibly and in line with professional ethics. Her comments come as AI is increasingly used worldwide for medical image analysis, disease detection, treatment planning and patient data management.
"Technology can help us diagnose faster and better, but it cannot replace the conscience and ethics of doctors," she said. "High technology must serve people, deep knowledge must serve patients, and strong professionalism must serve society."
She added that healthcare quality should not be measured by modern equipment alone. Patient safety, professional responsibility, respect for patients and clear communication matter more than advanced tools.
Five recommendations from the First Lady
Chanmony outlined five points for participants. She urged them to treat the conference as a genuine learning opportunity, share knowledge with the next generation, develop technological skills without abandoning professional ethics, keep patients at the centre of care, and uphold the association's humanitarian spirit.
"Please remember that we use technology to support medical decision-making, not to replace the responsibility of our medical team," she said.
Guidance for dental students
To dental students at the event, Chanmony said excelling in the profession requires more than mastering clinical techniques. It demands understanding patients' emotions and practising patience, compassion and care. She reiterated that while AI will play a growing role in healthcare, technology can never supply the conscience, ethics and humanity that earn patients' trust.
Why this matters for healthcare professionals
Chanmony's message reflects a widening consensus that AI adoption in clinical settings must be paired with explicit guardrails around clinical accountability. For practitioners, the takeaway is practical: AI can accelerate differential diagnosis and image review, but the final decision - and the legal and ethical responsibility - remains with the medical team. Healthcare organisations rolling out AI tools will need to define clear protocols that keep clinicians in the decision loop, ensuring that speed does not come at the cost of patient-centred care.
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