Hilary Thurston | Searcharxiv

arXiv2025

When Algorithms Infer Gender: Revisiting Computational Phenotyping with Electronic Health Records Data

Computational phenotyping has emerged as a practical solution to the incomplete collection of data on gender in electronic health records (EHRs). This approach relies on algorithms to infer a patient's gender using the available data in their health record, such as diagnosis codes, medication histories, and information in clinical notes. Although intended to improve the visibility of trans and gender-expansive populations in EHR-based biomedical research, computational phenotyping raises significant methodological and ethical concerns related to the potential misuse of algorithm outputs. In this paper, we review current practices for computational phenotyping of gender and examine its challenges through a critical lens. We also highlight existing recommendations for biomedical researchers and propose priorities for future work in this domain.

cs.CY↗

arXiv2025

What is Fair? Defining Fairness in Machine Learning for Health

Ensuring that machine learning (ML) models are safe, effective, and equitable across all patients is critical for clinical decision-making and for preventing the amplification of existing health disparities. In this work, we examine how fairness is conceptualized in ML for health, including why ML models may lead to unfair decisions and how fairness has been measured in diverse real-world applications. We review commonly used fairness notions within group, individual, and causal-based frameworks. We also discuss the outlook for future research and highlight opportunities and challenges in operationalizing fairness in health-focused applications.

cs.LG↗