Rhode Island Enacts First-in-Nation AI Scribe Disclosure Law for Healthcare
Rhode Island has enacted legislation making it the first state in the nation to require healthcare providers to disclose when they use artificial intelligence scribes during patient visits and to offer patients a clear opt-out process.
AI scribes are increasingly used in clinical settings to automatically document conversations between physicians and patients, a task that traditionally consumes significant physician time. The new law addresses growing concerns about patient privacy and informed consent in an era of AI-assisted healthcare.
Under the legislation, healthcare providers must inform patients before or during a visit that an AI system will be used to document the interaction. Patients must then be given the opportunity to decline, ensuring human documentation remains an option for those uncomfortable with AI recording their medical conversations.
The measure represents a balancing act between adopting efficiency-enhancing AI tools and preserving patient autonomy over how their sensitive health information is handled. Supporters argue the law establishes a reasonable framework that neither bans AI scribes nor allows their use without transparency.
Rhode Island's approach may serve as a model for other states grappling with how to regulate emerging AI applications in healthcare settings, where questions about data handling, accuracy, and patient rights remain actively debated.