Now Reading: Patients bring AI answers to doctor visits, warn medics
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Patients bring AI answers to doctor visits, warn medics
Patients in India are increasingly arriving at doctor consultations with medical answers generated by artificial intelligence chatbots, doctors have said. The trend has prompted warnings from the medical community about the risks…
Patients in India are increasingly arriving at doctor consultations with medical answers generated by artificial intelligence chatbots, doctors have said. The trend has prompted warnings from the medical community about the risks of relying on unverified AI outputs for health advice.
Doctors caution that the AI tools have not examined the patient, do not disclose the data they were trained on, and are unaware of treatment costs in India. The warnings highlight concerns over misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment recommendations based on incomplete or inaccurate information.
Medical professionals urge patients to use AI as a starting point for discussion rather than a substitute for professional medical advice. The issue is expected to be raised at upcoming medical conferences in India.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The trend mirrors a global pattern seen since ChatGPT's 2022 launch, but India's large out-of-pocket healthcare spending makes the stakes higher. Under the National Medical Commission's 2022 ethics regulations, doctors must base advice on a physical or tele-consultation with the patient, something no chatbot can claim. The real test will be how regulators and medical councils respond: the NMC has not yet issued guidance on AI in clinical settings, and no Indian court has ruled on liability when a patient follows a chatbot's advice. The next signal to watch is the Indian Medical Association's annual conference in December, where a resolution on AI is expected.
The same trend is raising concerns in other countries. In the US, the FDA has warned about AI tools marketed for diagnosis without clearance. In India, the health ministry has not issued any advisory on patients using AI for self-diagnosis, leaving doctors to manage the risk case by case.
Source: ndtv.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
