Medical AI Compliance Glossary
Essential terms and definitions for navigating California's medical AI regulations.
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Compliance
Clinical Camouflage
The practice of designing AI interfaces to appear as licensed healthcare professionals, such as using white coats, medical titles, or stethoscopes. Prohibited under AB 489.
Disclosure Requirement
The legal mandate that AI systems must inform users they are interacting with artificial intelligence, not a human. Must occur at the start of every interaction.
Human-in-the-Loop (HITL)
A requirement that a qualified human must review and approve AI outputs before they are delivered to patients. Central to AB 3030 compliance for Generative AI.
Persistent Disclosure
The requirement that AI disclosure notices remain visible throughout an entire interaction, not just at the beginning. Required under AB 3030.
Post-Nominal Letters
Professional credentials listed after a person's name (e.g., M.D., R.N., Ph.D.). AI systems are prohibited from using these under AB 489.
White Coat Rule
The prohibition under AB 489 against AI avatars wearing white coats, scrubs, stethoscopes, or other clinical attire that might mislead patients about the AI's nature.
Healthcare Delivery
Telehealth
The remote delivery of healthcare services using telecommunications technology. AI tools in telehealth must comply with both AB 489 and AB 3030.
Legislation
AB 3030
California Assembly Bill 3030, which specifically regulates Generative AI in healthcare. It mandates human oversight for AI-generated medical content before it reaches patients.
AB 489
California Assembly Bill 489, also known as the Artificial Intelligence Transparency Act for Healthcare. This law requires AI systems interacting with patients in healthcare settings to clearly disclose their non-human nature.
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Federal law protecting sensitive patient health information (PHI). Works alongside state laws like AB 489 and AB 3030.
Patient Rights
Right to Know
A patient's legal right to be informed when they are interacting with AI rather than a human healthcare provider. Established by AB 489.
Privacy
PHI (Protected Health Information)
Any individually identifiable health information held or transmitted by a covered entity. Protected under HIPAA and California privacy laws.
Regulatory Body
Medical Board of California
The state agency responsible for licensing and regulating physicians in California. Enforces AI compliance regulations and can take disciplinary action for violations.
SEO
E-E-A-T
Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Google's framework for evaluating content quality, particularly important for medical and legal topics (YMYL content).
YMYL (Your Money or Your Life)
Google's classification for content that could impact a person's health, finances, or safety. Medical AI content falls under YMYL and is held to higher quality standards.
Technology
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Computer systems designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation.
Clinical Decision Support (CDS)
AI tools that assist healthcare providers in making clinical decisions. Under California law, CDS systems cannot autonomously finalize diagnoses without human review.
Generative AI (GenAI)
AI systems capable of creating new content, such as text, images, or code. Includes Large Language Models like GPT-4 and Claude. Subject to AB 3030 regulations in healthcare.
Hallucination
When a Generative AI produces plausible-sounding but factually incorrect or fabricated information. A critical risk in medical contexts where false information can harm patients.
Large Language Model (LLM)
A type of Generative AI trained on vast amounts of text data to understand and generate human-like language. Examples include GPT-4, Claude, and LLaMA.
Patient-Facing AI
Any AI system that directly interacts with patients, including chatbots, virtual assistants, and automated communication tools. Subject to AB 489 disclosure requirements.
Symptom Triage AI
AI systems that assess patient symptoms and recommend appropriate levels of care or urgency. Subject to strict HITL requirements due to clinical decision impact.
Virtual Nursing Assistant
AI-powered interfaces that help patients with administrative tasks, basic triage, or health information. Cannot use the title 'Nurse' or 'RN' under AB 489.
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