Doctors support the use of artificial intelligence in general practice

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By Daniel Pye

Doctors have supported using artificial intelligence in general practice to transcribe consultation notes.

GPs had a spirited debate on the use of AI in clinical practice at the British Medical Association’s conference of representatives of local medical committees on Friday.

Members voted for a motion calling for support “for the use of AI in general practice, for instance for transcribing notes”.

Doctors at the Glasgow event also said there should be “clear medico-legal protections for GPs, ensuring they are not held liable for AI-driven errors or outcomes beyond their control”.

The BMA should advocate for AI systems to receive “national assurance in the form of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and other necessary evaluations, so that practices do not need to repeat these assurance processes locally”, members agreed in a vote.

Dr Shan Hussain from Nottinghamshire LMC, who supported the motion, said that his surgery has had “literally a year of back and forth” with his integrated care board over the implementation of AI.