Doctors’ AI scribes get names of drugs and diagnoses wrong, NHS watchdog warns
Summary
An NHS watchdog in England warns that AI software used to write down what happens during doctor visits can make serious mistakes, like confusing drug names or illnesses. These errors could harm patients if not spotted, and there is currently little regulation to ensure the AI tools are safe and reliable.Key Facts
- AI scribes listen to patient-doctor talks and create written summaries.
- The technology sometimes records wrong drug names or diagnoses, causing patient distress.
- One case involved a wrong diagnosis of nerve damage called demyelination.
- Patients often find these AI errors before doctors do.
- The NHS plans to use AI scribes widely to reduce paperwork for doctors.
- The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency does not classify AI scribes as medical devices, so no strict controls apply.
- Doctors must carefully check AI notes for mistakes, which reduces the expected time saved.
- Some AI tools can misunderstand accents or invent details ("hallucinations"), leading to wrong information.
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