Introducing AI into medical practice requires communicating with patients. Some will welcome it enthusiastically; others will have privacy concerns or wonder whether "a machine" has access to their medical information.
Most Common Patient Concerns
- "Who will have access to my information?"
- "Will it be used to train AI or for something else?"
- "Does what I say in the consultation go to an external server?"
- "Is the doctor no longer listening — is the machine doing it?"
How to Communicate It Correctly
Timing of communication
Inform at the start of the first consultation where you use the tool, or in prior informed consent. Don't mention it mid-consultation as an afterthought.
Clear, non-technical language
Instead of: "We use an AI transcription tool in compliance with GDPR." Say: "To avoid having to type while I talk with you, I use a tool that converts what we say into text. This way I can give you my full attention. The information is confidential, just like everything we discuss here."
Key reassuring message: "The tool only listens during the consultation. It doesn't keep the audio, only the text that I review and approve before adding it to your medical record."
Managing Patients Who Decline AI
Some patients will prefer you don't use AI in their consultation. You have the legal obligation to respect this under GDPR. Have an alternative process ready and don't present it as a problem.