Melbourne psychiatrist refuses new patients who don't consent to AI note-taking
2 days ago
- #Data Privacy
- #Patient Consent
- #AI in Healthcare
- A Melbourne psychiatrist mandates AI scribe consent for new patients, refusing those who decline.
- Two in five GPs now use AI scribes, with usage doubling in the past year, amid rising mental health service demand.
- Patient concerns include data security, AI company use of information, transcription accuracy, and potential self-censorship in sessions.
- Heidi AI, a popular scribe, processes data locally, avoids training AI or selling it, and relies on third-party security audits.
- Critics argue AI transcription may be biased and imperfect, with risks of data leaks and power imbalances in consent.
- Current regulations exempt AI scribes from Therapeutic Goods Administration oversight, prompting calls for stronger patient rights and legal protections.