Artificial intelligence is already used in several areas of healthcare, including image analysis, diagnostic support, risk detection, medical research, clinical documentation and care organization. It can support health professionals, but it does not replace their expertise or the human relationship with the patient.
What are the potential benefits?
- AI can rapidly analyze large amounts of information and draw attention to patterns or abnormalities that require review.
- It can help structure clinical information, summarize lengthy records and support some decisions when used within a validated medical process.
- AI medical scribes may reduce the time spent on documentation, potentially allowing clinicians to focus more fully on the conversation with the patient.
- Over time, AI may support more personalized care and improve access to certain services, provided that the tools are reliable, equitable and appropriately governed.
What are the main risks?
- AI can produce false or invented information in a highly convincing tone. These errors, sometimes called “hallucinations,” can lead to harmful decisions when they are not verified.
- A system trained on incomplete or unrepresentative data may reproduce bias and perform less accurately for certain groups of patients.
- Entering medical information into an insecure tool can compromise confidentiality. Even without a name, a combination of details may indirectly identify someone.
- Overreliance on technology can reduce clinical vigilance or obscure the fact that an algorithm does not know the patient’s full history, values and preferences.
Essential safeguards in Québec
- The Collège des médecins du Québec states that physicians must understand an AI tool’s limitations, verify the accuracy of its output and remain responsible for the quality of the medical care provided.
- Identifiable patient information should not be entered into public or uncertified AI tools. Clinical systems must meet applicable security and privacy requirements.
- When an AI scribe captures a medical conversation, the patient’s explicit consent is required. The patient should understand the purpose, benefits, risks and limitations and may withdraw consent.
How can patients use AI more safely?
- Treat answers from public AI tools as a starting point for preparing questions, not as a diagnosis or prescription.
- Avoid sharing your name, health insurance number, medical reports, photographs or other identifying information.
- For severe or urgent symptoms, never wait for a digital tool to respond. Call 9-1-1 or seek urgent medical care.
At Bina Clinic, we believe AI should strengthen a clinician’s capabilities without replacing clinical judgment, confidentiality, transparency or shared decision-making with the patient.
Official sources
This article provides general information and does not replace a personalized medical assessment, diagnosis or treatment.
