AI transcription by GPs raises ethical and data security issues, study suggests

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By Olivia Bowthorpe

Artificial intelligence transcription tools are proving useful for the majority of GPs during consultations - but there may be a lack of understanding around ethical and legal concerns, a study has found.

A New Zealand survey of 197 GPs and other primary care staff in 2024 found that 40% had used AI scribes.

They reported reduced multitasking, saved time, and improved rapport with patients.

Overall, 80% found AI scribes helpful or very helpful, with 56% saying the tool changed consultation dynamics.

Yet only 66% had read the terms and conditions, and just 59% reported seeking patient consent.¹

Lead researcher, Angela Ballantyne, professor of bioethics at the University of Otago, New Zealand, said: “Most AI scribes rely on international cloud-based platforms, often privately owned and controlled, for processing and storing data.”

This raises questions, she went on, about where data is stored, who has access to it, and how it can be protected from cyber threats.