Suggestions
Deseray Matteson
J.D. Candidate at St. Mary's University School of Law
Deseray Matteson is a professional with a strong background in business, holding a degree from Tarleton State University. She currently serves as the Director of Political Advocacy & Member Relations at Texas Health Care Association. Prior to this role, Deseray gained valuable experience as a Program Manager at Accenture and as a Special Projects Manager at Altig – American Income Life Insurance Company.
Highlights
Last week, I attended American Health Law Association’s program on the Complexities of AI in Health Care. I was scheduled to land three hours before the first session, but travel delays and a rerouted flight left me 300 miles away in St. Louis. Undeterred, I rented a car and drove. By the time I arrived onsite, I had missed over half of the program, but it was worth it.
I decided to go to law school because I believed there must be a lawyer at the intersection of technology, health care, and policy. Within minutes of walking into my first session, I realized I had found a room full of them.
Some of the topics discussed included the use of PHI during AI development and the importance of an AI risk management framework. Thought-provoking questions were raised:
- If a physician chooses not to utilize tools that would improve the level of care, will this open them up to liability?
- How does the advancement of technology change the medical standard of care?
Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and the individuals I was able to connect with. One day, I intend to cross the finish line and find my place as an attorney sitting on a future AHLA panel. Hopefully, I’ll return the favor and inspire another law student to continue pushing towards their goal, even if it means they have to work harder to overcome challenges.
My next challenge is developing my paper topic for my first law school elective, “Artificial Intelligence Law and Policy.” Here’s an idea I’ve come up with as a starting point for research—please feel free to share any thoughts or suggestions:
AI and Medical Liability Insurance: Examine the current legal framework and potential changes surrounding liability and insurability for health care providers using AI in treatment decisions.
Living 100 miles from school modified the experience a bit, but 9 months and 27,000 miles later, my first year of law school is over. It feels incredible to reflect on this year spent alongside so many amazing students, each of us navigating the balance between law school demands and our individual selves. For me, that meant choosing between writing practice essays or coaching my daughter at her jiu-jitsu competition. It meant deciding whether to attend student organization events or my son’s band concerts back home, 100 miles away. Broadly speaking, I had to prioritize between law school and my family. Choosing family over school required courage, and I couldn’t have managed without the support of my husband. I am proud that I made it to all of the competitions and concerts, achieved a top 25% ranking in my class after the first semester, and found meaningful ways to contribute to my school community throughout the year. I am deeply grateful for the colleagues and mentors who have encouraged me along the way and I look forward to continuing this journey.
