AI scribes in doctor’s offices: What you need to know about privacy risks

If you’ve visited a doctor recently and noticed they were typing less and letting a screen listen in on your conversation, you may have encountered an AI scribing tool. These systems automatically transcribe and summarise patient consultations, saving clinicians time on paperwork. But a recent warning from the Australian government highlights that the convenience comes with real privacy and safety risks that patients should be aware of.

What happened

In July 2026, the Australian government issued a formal advisory cautioning doctors about the use of AI scribing tools. The warning, reported by Digital Trends and other outlets, points to concerns over how these tools handle sensitive patient data, including the possibility of data being stored on third-party servers, shared with companies that develop the AI, or accessed by unauthorised parties. The advisory also flags the risk of transcription errors, which could lead to incorrect medical records and misdiagnosis.

AI scribing tools work by recording or analysing the audio of a consultation in real time. They then produce a written summary that the doctor reviews and adds to your medical file. But the process often involves sending audio or text data to cloud servers, sometimes outside the country’s jurisdiction. Patients are not always informed that their conversation is being processed by an AI system, and consent may be buried in a generic privacy notice at the clinic.

Why it matters

For patients, the stakes are high. Medical records are among the most sensitive personal information you hold. A breach could expose health conditions, medications, genetic data, or mental health details. If the AI tool stores data on a third-party platform that later suffers a security incident, your information could be leaked or sold without your knowledge.

Beyond privacy, there’s the accuracy concern. AI-generated summaries may miss nuances, misinterpret symptoms, or hallucinate details—something that has been documented with other large language model applications. If a doctor signs off on an inaccurate summary, it becomes part of your official medical history and could influence future treatment decisions.

The Australian warning is significant because it’s one of the first national-level advisories on the topic. It acknowledges that current regulations around data protection and health privacy were written before these tools became common. Other countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, may follow suit, but for now the responsibility largely falls on individual practices and patients.

What you can do

As a patient, you have rights, even if you don’t always feel empowered to exercise them. Here are practical steps you can take:

  • Ask your doctor if they use AI scribing. It’s a fair question. You can say, “Are you using an automated system to record or summarise our conversation?” Many doctors will be upfront if you ask directly.
  • Request an opt-out. In most cases, you can decline to have your consultation transcribed by an AI tool. The doctor may need to take notes manually or use a human scribe, but that is their responsibility. You should not have to sacrifice privacy for the convenience of the clinic.
  • Review the clinic’s privacy policy before your appointment, if possible. Look for details about data storage, third-party sharing, and retention periods. If the policy is vague, ask for clarification.
  • Check your medical record for errors after a visit where you know AI scribing was used. You have the right to access your records and request corrections if something is wrong.
  • Consider bringing a written list of your symptoms, medications, and questions so that if the AI summary is poor, the key information is already documented.

Sources

The information in this article is based on reporting from Digital Trends (July 2026) regarding the Australian government’s warning on AI scribing tools. For the original coverage, see:
Australian government warns doctors over AI scribing tools as privacy and safety concerns grow – Digital Trends

Note: The advisory is specific to Australia, but the underlying privacy and safety concerns are relevant to healthcare consumers globally. If you are outside Australia, check with your local health authority or data protection regulator for guidance.