AI transcriptions are no time-saving measure for doctors | Letters
TL;DR
Dr Mary Gibbs says there are a number of problems with AI, particularly its tendency to misunderstand, as Debbie Cameron can attest I am an out-of-hours GP, and I am glad to see a news report on this issue, which has been causing me increasing concern at work (Doctors’ AI scribes get names of drugs and diagnoses wrong, NHS watchdog warns, 31 August). There are a number of problems with AI, particularly its tendency to misunderstand and contradict itself, which can lead to dangers for the patient, but I will concentrate on the supposed “time-saving” aspect.
Nauti's Take
AI scribes address a real bottleneck, since documentation eats a large share of a GP's day and the potential relief is genuine. The limit shows up in review, where wrong drug names and misread diagnoses only surface on a second pass and cancel out the time saved.
Practices with a disciplined check step and low-risk text types stand to gain, while acute patient care warrants caution.
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