Doctors, hospitals can't use AI to create testimonials: National Medical Commission
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India's National Medical Commission has issued new ethical advertising guidelines prohibiting doctors and hospitals from using AI to create patient testimonials, clinical outcomes, or promotional content, banning paid search ranking manipulation, and restricting unverified claims and influencer arrangements, effective immediately.
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The National Medical Commission issued new ethical advertising guidelines for medical practitioners and hospitals in India.
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NEW DELHI: Doctors and hospitals cannot use AI to create patient testimonials, clinical outcomes or promotional content, nor can they pay to manipulate rankings like those on search engines and apps, under new ethical advertising guidelines issued by National Medical Commission Tuesday, effective immediately. NMC has barred registered medical practitioners and hospitals from using AI-generated content to advertise their services, solicit patients or disseminate unverifiable information about diagnoses, treatments or outcomes. AI cannot be used to create synthetic patient testimonials, voices, clinical outcomes or fake endorsements, or misrepresent the nature or quality of medical services. Doctors can't pay for manipulate search rankings. They also can't make unverified claims such as "best", "number one", "most trusted", "guaranteed cures" or "100% success". Doctors cannot engage influencers, advertising agencies or online platforms in arrangements involving payment linked to procuring patients. Doctors and hospitals cannot offer limited-period discounts, coupons, gift packages or referral benefits if these are likely to encourage unnecessary consultations. However, NMC allows doctors to use social media for factual, non-promotional health education. Hospitals can similarly share objective details.
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The guidelines restrict the use of patient photographs without valid consent and safeguards. Patient testimonials, before-and-after images and treatment-success claims that could create unrealistic expectations or mislead are also prohibited. NMC has prescribed a warning and mandatory ethics training for a first violation, censure and monetary penalty for a second, suspension for three to six months for a third, and six to 12 months for serious violations. Repeated violations can lead to removal from the medical register for one to three years.
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Open Questions
- How will the NMC enforce compliance with these guidelines?
- What constitutes valid consent for patient photographs under the new rules?
- Are there exemptions for medical research or academic use of AI in healthcare communication?
