A Melbourne psychiatrist is requiring new patients to consent to the use of artificial intelligence to transcribe their sessions, or be referred elsewhere. Dr Hemlata Ranga's registration form states that patients who do not agree to AI transcription must ask their referring doctor to send them to a different provider.
The use of AI scribes is growing rapidly in Australian healthcare, with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners reporting that two in five GPs now use such tools. However, concerns have been raised about data security, accuracy, and the potential for patient self-censorship, particularly in sensitive areas like mental health.
One patient, who wished to remain anonymous, told Guardian Australia they objected to the requirement but felt unable to switch psychiatrists due to long waiting lists and the difficulty of finding a replacement. They described the wording of the consent form as 'defensive' and suggested other patients may have raised concerns previously.
The Melbourne Clinic, where Dr Ranga practices, stated it does not direct psychiatrists on AI use but expects disclosure and consent. If consent is not given, AI should not be used. The clinic emphasised that its practitioners are independent.
Heidi AI, a popular scribe used in 115 million sessions, says data is processed locally, not used for training, and is subject to third-party audits. However, Digital Rights Watch policy head Tom Sulston warned that AI transcription is imperfect and may disproportionately misrepresent minority groups. He argued that patients should not be denied care for refusing AI, and called for stronger regulation, noting the tools are exempt from TGA oversight as they do not diagnose.
