Sixty percent of doctors are now using artificial intelligence in their clinical practice, according to a survey by the Medical Defence Union.
The survey of 1,626 medical professionals found that 22 percent reported daily use while 30 percent used the technology at least once a week. Artificial intelligence is being used more widely for administrative tasks than clinical decision-making. Ninety percent of respondents who employed the technology used ambient AI scribes for note-taking. Forty-nine percent used the tools to support referrals.
The findings point to growing adoption of artificial intelligence to reduce administrative workloads. Clinicians could potentially spend more time on patient care as a result. However, the survey also identified concerns about the safety and accuracy of generated information.
While 76 percent of respondents expressed some degree of confidence in their ability to use artificial intelligence safely and legally in clinical practice, 40 percent worried about clinical errors or inaccurate results. Despite these concerns, 60 percent expected their use of the technology to increase over the next 12 months. Sixteen percent anticipated no change, and just 1 percent expected their use to decline.
The survey identified demand for clearer guidance and regulation. Fifty-nine percent of respondents supported the introduction of an NHS-approved list of artificial intelligence tools. Forty-five percent called for clearer government regulation.
Dr Oliver Lord, disciplinary specialist team leader at the MDU, issued a warning regarding unapproved deployment. It’s unsurprising that AI is playing an increasingly important role in clinical practice,
Dr Lord stated. However, using AI without approval and outside the governance framework of your organisation carries significant personal risks and individual doctors are responsible for ensuring their clinical records are accurate, including clinical notes transcribed by AI systems.
Dr Lord added further context on professional liability. Consequently, it’s crucial that clinicians receive training in how AI tools work, are aware of the possibility of hallucinations and bias and always check the output as they are responsible for any decision or documentation they make with AI,
he said.
| Usage Frequency and Application | Percentage of Surveyed Doctors |
|---|---|
| Current overall usage in practice | 60% |
| Daily use reported | 22% |
| Use at least once a week | 30% |
| Using ambient AI for note-taking | 90% |
| Using AI to support referrals | 49% |
| Confident in safe and legal use | 76% |
| Concerned about errors or inaccuracies | 40% |
| Expecting increased use in 12 months | 60% |
| Supporting an NHS-approved tool list | 59% |
| Calling for clearer government regulation | 45% |
The Medical Defence Union has developed guidance and training resources to support members using these systems in clinical practice.
- LaingBuisson News. Six in ten doctors using AI in clinical practice.
