Six in ten doctors using AI in clinical practice

More 60% of doctors are now using AI in their clinical practice, according to a survey by the Medical Defence Union (MDU).

The survey of 1,626 medical professionals found that 22% reported daily use while 30% used the technology at least once a week.

AI is being used more widely for administrative tasks than clinical decision-making, with 90% of respondents who employed AI, using ambient AI scribes for note-taking and 49% using them to support referrals.

The findings suggest growing adoption of AI to reduce administrative workloads, potentially allowing clinicians to spend more time on patient care.

However, the survey also identified concerns about the safety and accuracy of AI-generated information.

While 76% of respondents expressed some degree of confidence in their ability to use AI safely and legally in clinical practice, 40% were concerned about clinical errors or inaccurate results.

Despite these concerns, 60% expected their use of AI to increase over the next 12 months, compared with 16% who anticipated no change and just 1% who expected their use to decline.

The survey also identified demand for clearer guidance and regulation, with 59% of respondents supporting the introduction of an NHS-approved list of AI tools and 45% calling for clearer government regulation.

Dr Oliver Lord, disciplinary specialist team leader at the MDU, warned that clinicians said: ‘It’s unsurprising that AI is playing an increasingly important role in clinical practice. 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.

‘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.’

The MDU has developed guidance and training resources to support members using AI in clinical practice.