What You’re Not Being Told About AI in Medicine

You trust your phone to get directions, your car to drive itself, and your search engine to answer your questions, but when it comes to AI in medicine, is that level of trust justified?

Here’s the thing: AI tools like ChatGPT are creeping into healthcare in ways that may sound helpful, but without proper oversight, they could be dangerous.

Take a recent story, for example. A 60-year-old man in New York was hospitalized after following dietary advice from ChatGPT, resulting in a severe case of hyponatremia. The man trusted the AI’s suggestion of a low-sodium diet, which led to dangerously low sodium levels in his blood.

Now. This isn’t your regular oopsy daisy. There are lives involved, reminding us that AI, no matter how smart it seems, isn’t a replacement for professional medical advice. Let’s take a closer look at why we need to be cautious when using AI in medicine.

Disclaimer: While these are general suggestions, it’s important to conduct thorough research and due diligence when selecting AI tools. We do not endorse or promote any specific AI tools mentioned here. This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal, financial, or clinical advice. Always comply with HIPAA and institutional policies. For any decisions that impact patient care or finances, consult a qualified professional.

The Illusion of AI as a Medical Expert

Here’s a trap we’ve all been tempted to fall into: trusting AI tools like ChatGPT as medical experts. It’s easy, right? They process massive amounts of data in seconds, so they must be reliable, right? Well… not exactly.

Look, AI pulls from a ton of sources, but not all data is equal. Some of it is outdated, wrong, or just plain misleading.

Think about it this way: it’s like Googling your symptoms and reading a bunch of random articles. You don’t know what’s trustworthy and what’s not. With AI, it’s even trickier because there’s no one there to say, “Hold on, that’s not right.”

Here’s the kicker: AI doesn’t understand context like you do. Sure, it can give you recommendations, but it doesn’t know the patient in front of you. It doesn’t know their history, their lifestyle, or what else might be going on in their life. That’s where your expertise comes in. You don’t just follow guidelines, you interpret, you connect the dots, and you make decisions based on the whole picture. AI? It’s still a step behind in that department.

A study by Mount Sinai found that AI chatbots can easily spread false medical info, putting patients at risk. So, while these tools can help, they’re far from perfect, and they definitely shouldn’t replace the judgment of a real-life doctor.

The Dangers of AI-Generated Misinformation

If you think it’s not that bad, here’s something to really think about: AI chatbots can be manipulated to spit out false health information. A study from Flinders University showed just how easy it is for AI to spread misinformation.

And if you’re thinking, “Well, I’d never trust AI over a doctor,” you’re not alone. But what happens when a patient does? They trust AI, and that misinformation can have real, harmful consequences.

And don’t get me started on the mental health space. Or managing chronic illnesses. Those areas are already tough enough because of the lack of clear, reliable info. When AI gives the wrong advice, it makes things worse, not better.

We’re living in a world where misinformation spreads faster than truth. And with AI, it’s not just a few people being misled by a viral post on social media. It’s millions of people who could trust AI recommendations blindly. AI doesn’t have the critical thinking skills to differentiate between good data and bad data. You know this. But the average patient doesn’t.

This isn’t just some small issue. It’s a massive public health risk. A study by Harvard Medical School and the University of South Australia found that AI can be programmed to mislead millions. And right now, we don’t have the proper safeguards to stop it. So we need to be careful about how we use AI in medicine, and how we let our patients use it.

Ethical and Practical Considerations in AI Integration

Let’s talk ethics, since AI in medicine isn’t just a tech issue; it’s also an ethical one. Now that we know how AI can help spread medical misinformation on a much larger, much faster scale. What do we now do about it? How do we make sure AI benefits patients and doesn’t put them at risk?

Well, the problem is… It’s not the AI itself. It’s how we’re using it. Are we really ready to trust machines with decisions that affect human lives? And if we are, what happens when things go wrong? Who’s responsible?

Some doctors are already using unsupervised AI in their practices, making clinical decisions with the help of these tools. AI is still unproven. Without proper validation, AI could be leading doctors down dangerous paths.

It may not have the full picture of a patient’s history, or it could miss key details. And that’s something we can’t afford to overlook.

Beyond just making decisions, AI brings up other big questions, like who owns the data and who’s responsible if it all goes wrong. AI is still new in healthcare, and we need to get ahead of the ethical issues. We can’t just dive in without thinking through the risks.

Final Thoughts: Proceed with Caution

AI could definitely revolutionize healthcare, but just because a tool is advanced doesn’t mean it’s infallible. We’ve got to approach it with a healthy dose of skepticism and caution because patient safety and good medical practice will always trump convenience.

Here’s the bottom line: AI should complement, not replace, the expert judgment of medical professionals.

Now, if you’re considering AI in your practice, ask the right questions:

• Who developed this AI tool, and what are their qualifications?
• What data was used to train the AI, and is it representative of my patient population?
• Has this AI tool been validated in clinical settings?
• What are the potential risks or limitations associated with this AI tool?
• How does this AI tool comply with ethical standards and regulations?

By getting clear on these, you can make better decisions about how AI fits into your practice and keep patient care at the forefront. So, let’s keep our heads in the game, stay vigilant, and always remember: AI isn’t perfect, and neither are we. But together, with the right tools and the right approach, we can still deliver excellent care.

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To go deeper, check out PIMDCON 2025 — The Physician Real Estate & Entrepreneurship Conference. You’ll gain real-world strategies from doctors who are successfully integrating AI and business for massive results.

See you again next time! As always, make it happen.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is based on available public data and may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date. It’s recommended to contact the respective companies/individuals for detailed information on features, pricing, and availability. This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal, financial, or clinical advice. Always comply with HIPAA and institutional policies. For any decisions that impact patient care or finances, consult a qualified professional.

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Peter Kim, MD is the founder of Passive Income MD, the creator of Passive Real Estate Academy, and offers weekly education through his Monday podcast, the Passive Income MD Podcast. Join our community at the Passive Income Doc Facebook Group.

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