{
  "id": 4586002,
  "title": "Doctors’ AI scribes get names of drugs and diagnoses wrong, NHS watchdog warns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/doctors-ai-scribes-get-names-of-drugs-and-diagnoses-wrong-nhs",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-31T06:00:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Health",
    "slug": "guardian-health",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/aug/31/doctors-ai-scribes-get-names-of-drugs-and-diagnoses-wrong-nhs-watchdog-warns"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NHS watchdog warns that AI technology used by GPs to listen and transcribe patient consultations can lead to errors in drug and diagnosis names, potentially endangering patient safety. A woman was unnerved when her consultation summary incorrectly mentioned demyelination, a nerve damage condition that can be a sign of multiple sclerosis. This occurred when the AI scribe got her MRI results wrong, and despite the hospital correcting it, the patient found it traumatic.\n\nAnother instance involved an AI scribe confusing a prescribed drug with another of similar name, an error identified by the patient, not the doctor. Similarly, an AI-generated summary letter failed to note that a consultant had instructed a patient to request a repeat prescription for their migraine, which could have prevented them from obtaining necessary medication.\n\nHealthwatch England, the NHS patient champion, has gathered numerous stories from patients who noticed these errors when a healthcare professional hadn't. They warn these inaccuracies may remain in medical records if the patient doesn't catch them. The 10-year NHS plan in England expects AI scribes to free up time for patient care, but critics argue the technology is a potential threat to safety. Despite the NHS's belief that scribes will reduce doctors' note-taking burden, experts still see the chance of errors, especially in complex consultations or with non-English speaking patients.\n\nHowever, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has decided not to classify AI scribes as medical devices, meaning no nationwide oversight to ensure their safety and effectiveness. GPs and hospital doctors in England currently use 27 different AI scribes. Critics, including the Patients Association's CEO and a GP, express concern over the lack of patient communication and potential legal repercussions for the NHS over AI-related mistakes.",
  "summary": "Exclusive: Patients identify errors in consultation transcripts that are missed by GPs, Healthwatch England finds AI technology that listens to and transcribes patients’ consultations with doctors can put them at risk by getting the names of drugs and illnesses wrong, an NHS watchdog has warned. In one case a woman was left badly shaken when the AI scribe’s summary of her conversation wrongly…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Technology",
        "title": "Doctors’ AI scribes get names of drugs and diagnoses wrong, NHS watchdog warns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/doctors-ai-scribes-get-names-of-drugs-and-diagnoses-wrong-nhs-4588375",
        "published": "2026-08-31T06:00:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}