Doctors Are Using AI to Take Notes—What It Means for Your Privacy

Doctors Are Using AI to Take Notes—What It Means for Your Privacy

You walk into the exam room, sit down, and start describing your symptoms to your doctor. A few minutes later, you notice your physician isn’t typing or writing much. Instead, a small device or a smartphone is sitting on the desk, quietly recording the conversation. That recording is being processed by an AI scribe—software that listens, transcribes, and summarises the visit into clinical notes.

AI scribes are becoming common in doctors’ offices and clinics across Australia and other countries. They promise to save time, reduce paperwork, and let doctors focus more on you. But a warning issued by the Australian government in early July 2026 highlights a significant downside: these tools may be putting your medical privacy at risk.

What happened

On 4 July 2026, The Guardian reported that the Australian government had issued a formal warning about the “soaring use” of AI scribes by doctors. The warning, issued by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and the Australian Digital Health Agency, cautioned that many AI note-taking tools transmit patient data to third-party cloud servers—often outside Australia—without adequate consent or security safeguards.

The agencies noted that some AI scribe services are not compliant with the Privacy Act 1988 or the My Health Records Act. They also warned that recorded conversations could be used by AI companies to train their models, unless patients explicitly opt out or the doctor has a clear contractual prohibition in place.

The warning does not ban AI scribes, but it makes clear that doctors must inform patients about the use of such technology and obtain their explicit consent before recording or transmitting any health information.

Why it matters

AI scribes work by converting speech to text, often using cloud-based natural language processing. That means your words—descriptions of your health, medications, even sensitive details about your mental or sexual health—travel from the doctor’s office to a remote server. The server may be operated by a company like OpenAI, Microsoft, or a smaller vendor.

The privacy risks are not theoretical. If data is stored on servers in jurisdictions with weaker privacy laws, it could be accessed by law enforcement or subject to data breaches. Even if the data is de-identified, there is always a risk of re-identification when combined with other datasets. Moreover, patients rarely sign a separate consent form for AI scribe use; it is often buried in a general practice privacy policy or not mentioned at all.

A 2023 study by the Australian Medical Association found that fewer than one in five patients were aware that their doctor used any form of AI during consultations. The new warning aims to close that gap.

What you can do

You don’t have to accept AI scribes without question. Here are practical steps you can take during your next appointment.

• Ask your doctor directly: “Are you using an AI tool to record or transcribe our conversation?” Many patients feel awkward asking, but it is your health information. A straightforward question usually gets a straightforward answer.
• Request a copy of the privacy consent form: If the practice uses an AI scribe, they should provide a document explaining what data is collected, where it is stored, and who has access. Read it before signing.
• Inquire about data storage and sharing: Ask whether the recording leaves your country, and whether it is used to train the AI model. If the answer is unclear or evasive, push for clarification.
• Opt out if you are uncomfortable: Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to refuse the use of an AI scribe. The doctor may then take notes manually or type in front of you. This may add a few minutes to the visit, but it preserves your privacy.
• Review your My Health Record: If you have an Australian My Health Record, check whether any AI-generated notes have been uploaded. You can remove documents you do not want shared.

The Australian government recommends that patients look for practices that have a clear policy on AI use and that obtain explicit, informed consent—not just a checkbox in a form.

Sources

• “Doctors’ soaring use of AI scribes prompts Australian government warning over privacy”, The Guardian, 4 July 2026. Link

• Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, “AI scribes and health information”, July 2026. (Referenced in the Guardian report.)

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. If you have concerns about your health data, consult a privacy professional or your local health consumer advocacy group.