GP Letter Raises Concerns Over AI Transcription Tools in Medical Consultations

A letter published in The Guardian's opinion section has raised concerns about the use of artificial intelligence transcription tools, known as AI scribes, in medical consultations, with the author arguing the technology does not deliver the time savings often claimed.

The letter, written by Dr Mary Gibbs, an out-of-hours GP, responds to a news report published on August 31 about NHS watchdog warnings that doctors' AI scribes have gotten the names of drugs and diagnoses wrong.

According to Gibbs, the letter follows increasing concern experienced while working with AI-assisted consultation records. Gibbs described a workflow in which many patients are first assessed by phone triage before being seen in person, requiring the GP to review a triage assessment beforehand.

Gibbs wrote that when AI has been used to generate these assessments, the resulting consultation record is "invariably long, with duplications, and sometimes contradictions." The letter states that any history subsequently taken by the doctor "turns out to be significantly different from what is listed" in the AI-generated notes.

As a result, Gibbs said trust in the accuracy of AI-generated records cannot be assumed, stating that "meaningful errors" are found far more often in AI-assisted consultations than in those typed out by colleagues without the use of AI tools.

The letter identifies several problems attributed to AI use in clinical settings, including a tendency to misunderstand information and, at times, contradict itself, which the author says can create risks for patients. However, the letter focuses specifically on challenging the notion that AI transcription offers time-saving benefits for practitioners, a claim often cited in discussions of the technology's adoption in healthcare settings.

The letter references a co-signee, Debbie Cameron, though further detail on Cameron's specific experience was not provided in the excerpt reviewed.

The concerns follow a broader news report regarding NHS watchdog warnings about AI scribes producing inaccuracies in medical documentation, including in cases involving drug names and diagnoses, according to the referenced August 31 reporting cited in the letter.