{
  "id": 12737491,
  "title": "Doctors, hospitals can't use AI to create testimonials: National Medical Commission",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/doctors-hospitals-cant-use-ai-to-create-testimonials-national-medical",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-07T23:13:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/doctors-hospitals-cant-use-ai-to-create-testimonials-national-medical-commission/articleshow/134776960.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Medical Commission has introduced new ethical advertising guidelines for doctors and hospitals in India, effective immediately. These rules prohibit the use of AI to generate patient testimonials, clinical outcomes, or promotional content, as well as the payment to manipulate search engine rankings and app store positions.\n\nMedical practitioners and hospitals are barred from creating synthetic patient testimonials, voices, or fake endorsements, and cannot misrepresent the nature or quality of medical services. Claims such as \"best,\" \"number one,\" \"most trusted,\" \"guaranteed cures,\" or \"100% success\" are also prohibited.\n\nDoctors and hospitals are restricted from engaging with influencers, advertising agencies, or online platforms in exchange for payment that could influence patient acquisition. They cannot offer limited-time discounts, coupons, gift packages, or referral benefits that might encourage unnecessary consultations.\n\nWhile doctors are allowed to use social media for factual, non-promotional health education, hospitals can share objective details about their services. The guidelines also prohibit the use of patient photographs without valid consent and require safeguards against misleading content like patient testimonials, before-and-after images, or claims of treatment success that could create unrealistic expectations.\n\nViolations of these guidelines will be addressed with escalating consequences. A first offense will result in a warning and mandatory ethics training. A second violation will lead to censure and a monetary penalty. A third offense will warrant suspension for three to six months. More serious violations may result in a six to 12-month suspension or, in cases of repeated violations, removal from the medical register for one to three years.",
  "summary": "National Medical Commission has issued guidelines restricting the use of AI in medical advertising and patient testimonials. Registered medical practitioners and hospitals must not engage in creating synthetic content or manipulating search rankings. Claims of being the best or offering guaranteed results are also prohibited under these rules. Additionally, offering discounts or referrals that…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}