Using AI Scribes in Medical Consultations: What Patients Need to Know

In recent years, the traditional privacy of medical consultations has been changing with the rising use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, known as AI scribes or digital scribes. These tools are increasingly present in doctors' offices, functioning as virtual assistants that listen in on conversations, transcribe dialogue, and draft structured clinical notes. Their capabilities extend to generating referral letters, administrative documents, and even updating medical records—a process that still requires clinician review and approval to ensure accuracy.

Some estimates indicate that about 25% of Australian general practitioners (GPs) have already adopted AI scribes, with major hospitals, including children’s facilities, conducting trials to assess their effectiveness. The appeal is straightforward: AI scribes aim to reduce the time doctors spend typing, allowing for more direct engagement and better eye contact with patients. However, this technological shift raises important concerns about patient privacy and data security.

Until recently, AI scribe tools operated in a largely unregulated environment. However, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has recently classified certain AI scribes as medical devices, particularly when these tools go beyond transcription to suggest diagnoses or treatment options. As a result, AI scribes must now comply with regulations such as registration and safety assessments, with ongoing reviews to ensure compliance.

This move aligns with overseas developments, where health authorities in the UK have also started to treat AI transcription and summarization tools as medical devices. Similar discussions are underway in the United States and the European Union, signaling a global push towards regulation and oversight of AI in healthcare.

Despite their advantages, AI scribes are not infallible. They can produce errors, especially with accents, background noise, or complex medical jargon. There have been cases where casual remarks were misinterpreted as diagnoses. Consequently, clinicians must review all notes generated by AI before entering them into your medical record.

Privacy remains a critical issue. Sensitive health data stored or processed by AI tools could be vulnerable to breaches. Patients should be informed about where their audio and notes are stored, how long they are retained, and whether data is used for training AI models. Consent must be explicit; patients should have the right to decline recording without impacting their care. Particularly for vulnerable populations, such as Indigenous communities, adherence to community norms and data sovereignty is essential.

Patients are encouraged to ask their healthcare providers five key questions when AI scribes are used: whether the tool is approved and regulated, who has access to their data, whether they can pause or opt out, if notes are reviewed before official entry, and how errors are managed. Ensuring transparency and safety in AI use can help foster trust and safeguard privacy.

While AI scribes hold the promise of improving healthcare efficiency, safeguarding patient safety and privacy must accompany technological advancements. Strong regulatory standards, independent evaluations, and clear policies on data use are vital to ensure these tools serve patients effectively and ethically.

Source: [https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-doctor-ai-scribe.html]