As ChatGPT becomes a routine tool in Catalonian general practices, experts warn that significant ethical, legal, and safety issues must be addressed to prevent misuse and protect patient trust.
The spread of ChatGPT into ordinary medical practice is no longer a theoretical debate. In Catalonia, a study highlighted by The Lancet found that family doctors were already using the tool during consultations, mainly to help draft reports, organise information and ease the administrative load that can crowd out patient time. What looked like a novelty is becoming part of the clinical routine, and that shift is forcing doctors and regulators to confront questions that efficiency alone cannot settle.
The appeal is obvious. In overstretched primary care systems, artificial intelligence can save time, structure notes and even support diagnostic thinking. But the ethical review published in npj Digital Medicine argues that large language models also bring familiar hazards: bias, privacy problems, weak transparency and the danger of producing fluent but misleading answers. In medicine, a polished sentence is not the same thing as a safe one.
That tension is already visible in everyday practice. The article notes the now familiar scene of a doctor speaking aloud after an appointment, dictating a summary for an AI system to convert into a formal record. The Journal of Medical Internet Research has said that such uses raise legal and humanistic questions about who owns the decision, who is accountable when something goes wrong and whether patients are being told when AI has shaped their care. Those concerns become sharper when experienced clinicians, not just early adopters, are the ones most likely to use the tools.
The risks extend well beyond clerical work. A recent investigation reported by ScienceDaily found that chatbot-style systems can respond with alarming confidence to dangerous medical prompts, including advice that would clearly be unsafe in real life. Separate reporting on OpenAI’s health-related features has also drawn attention to privacy concerns, with experts warning that uploading medical records to a chatbot raises confidentiality issues that do not map neatly onto the protections offered in conventional healthcare settings.
There is still a case for careful use. As the article argues, medicine has always absorbed new tools, from the stethoscope to imaging systems and electronic records. But the more powerful the software becomes, the more urgent the need for training, clear boundaries and active human judgement. Brown University researchers, writing about AI in therapy, went further, warning that chatbots can mishandle crises and reinforce harmful beliefs unless ethical and legal standards keep pace. In healthcare, the central question is no longer whether AI will be present, but how far clinicians are willing to let convenience erode responsibility, trust and the human bond at the heart of care.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
6
Notes:
The article references a study in Catalonia highlighted by The Lancet, but no direct link to the study is provided. A search for ‘ChatGPT use in medical practice study Catalonia The Lancet’ yielded no direct results. However, similar studies on ChatGPT’s use in medical settings have been published, such as a 2024 study on pediatric healthcare providers ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39265163?utm_source=openai)) and a 2025 scoping review on its clinical use in mental health care ([mental.jmir.org](https://mental.jmir.org/2025/1/e81204?utm_source=openai)). The absence of a direct link to the Catalonia study raises concerns about the freshness and originality of the content.
Quotes check
Score:
5
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from various sources, but without direct links or citations, it’s challenging to verify their authenticity. For instance, the claim that ‘a polished sentence is not the same thing as a safe one’ is attributed to an article in npj Digital Medicine, but no direct link is provided. The lack of verifiable sources for these quotes diminishes the credibility of the content.
Source reliability
Score:
4
Notes:
The article originates from Revista Fórum, a Brazilian publication. While it may be reputable within its niche, its international reach and recognition are limited. The absence of direct links to primary sources and reliance on secondary reporting further diminishes the reliability of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about ChatGPT’s integration into medical practice and the associated ethical concerns are plausible and align with existing literature. However, the lack of direct references to primary studies or official reports makes it difficult to fully substantiate these claims.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents plausible claims about ChatGPT’s integration into medical practice and associated ethical concerns. However, the lack of direct citations, reliance on secondary sources, and absence of verifiable quotes significantly undermine its credibility. The absence of a direct link to the Catalonia study and the use of unverifiable quotes further diminish the article’s reliability.
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