California’s AI 'Right to Know': A Guide for Patient Advocacy

Patients now have a legal right to know if an AI is talking to them. Is your clinic ready? 🗣️

The New Patient Right

California has effectively established a "Right to Know" regarding AI in healthcare. Just as patients have a right to know their doctor's name and qualifications, they now have a right to know if their care provider—or the entity they are chatting with—is a machine.

Informed Consent 2.0

Using AI for diagnosis, treatment planning, or even patient communication without disclosure could be seen as a violation of informed consent. If a patient believes they are texting a nurse, but they are texting a bot, they are making decisions based on false information.

Empowering Patients

Patient advocacy groups are already educating the public. They are teaching patients to ask:

• "Did a human review this result?"
• "Is this chat monitored by a nurse?"
• "Did an AI help write this radiology report?"

Clinics and providers must be ready to answer these questions honestly and transparently.

Conclusion

Transparency isn't just a legal box to check; it's a core component of the patient-provider relationship. Hiding the AI destroys trust. Embracing it, and explaining how it helps the doctor, builds trust.