Does AI belong in the exam room? Lawsuit alleges California health care group violated patient privacy.

"A recent lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court alleges that Sharp HealthCare recorded conversations between doctors and their patients without written consent, using the information to document visits with an artificial intelligence program developed by a private company in Pittsburgh. While the lawsuit focuses on one particular medical provider in San Diego County, attempting to create a class-action claim made up of Sharp patients, it also shines a spotlight on the quiet, but broad adoption of AI-powered clinical transcription software throughout mainstream medicine."

"UC San Diego Health confirmed that it uses a system called Nabla, which it installed after a thorough security review. The university health system says that it requires patient consent before using the system, which includes an annual written consent (plus) verbal consent from the patient and all parties in the exam room at each visit. Kaiser Permanente said in a statement that its clinicians have access to a clinical documentation assistance tool that supports them with securely capturing initial clinical notes"

A lawsuit filed in San Diego alleges Sharp HealthCare recorded doctor-patient conversations without written consent and used the recordings with an AI program from a Pittsburgh company to document visits. The lawsuit targets one San Diego provider while seeking to form a class-action of Sharp patients and highlights broad adoption of AI clinical transcription across medicine. A survey of San Diego providers after Nov. 26 shows several local organizations using similar systems. Rady Children’s is piloting ambient scribing with clinicians required to obtain patient consent. UC San Diego Health uses Nabla after a security review and requires annual written consent plus verbal consent at each visit. Kaiser offers a documentation assistance tool that requires patient permission. Scripps declined to comment, Paradise Valley Hospital reported not using AI note-taking, and statuses for Palomar Health and Tri-City were not specified in the provided excerpt.

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