A hospital is considering deploying an AI triage system that would prioritize emergency room patients based on predicted clinical outcomes. From an ethical standpoint, which consideration is MOST critical before deployment?

B is correct because AI-based triage in emergency medicine directly affects patient survival — the most critical ethical consideration is whether algorithmic factors (including proxies for race, insurance status, or socioeconomic factors) create differential prioritization that could harm vulnerable patients, and whether an effective human override process exists. A addresses availability. C addresses vendor reputation. D addresses technical credibility — all secondary to equity and override capability.