AI Doctors Listen In: Your Privacy at Risk?

Artificial intelligence scribes are increasingly being adopted by doctors across the U.S., with around 30 percent of physicians now using these tools to help document patient encounters. This technology promises to alleviate the substantial burden of medical paperwork, which can consume over two hours for every eight hours of patient care, thereby reducing physician stress and burnout.

While the intention is for AI scribes to enhance patient care by allowing doctors to focus more on conversations and produce detailed notes, there are growing concerns regarding patient privacy, consent, and the accuracy of the generated records. Companies typically store audio recordings and transcripts temporarily, often deleting them within a few weeks or months, with only the finalized notes entering the electronic medical record.

Patients have the right to know if AI is being used and can request not to be recorded or to pause recordings during sensitive discussions. Although not always legally required, most doctors will seek consent. Furthermore, patients should be aware that AI-generated notes can contain inaccuracies and should always review them for correctness, similar to human-written notes, as clinicians are responsible for the final signed record.