DOCTORS have been warned AI-written medical notes fail to capture “potentially vital” patient gestures and facial expressions.

A University of Edinburgh study found many medics are “excited” about so-called AI scribes, which convert speech into structured medical notes.

Researchers warned that the “experiences of patients are poorly considered” as the paperwork-slashing tech has a “written language bias” that can miss gestures, facial expressions and the tone in which patients or doctors are speaking.

They also suggest that patients may adapt their behaviour in front of AI, and a “lack of trust may lead to less disclosure.”

Dr Lucas Seuren, research fellow at the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society, warned that “there are real risks that the patients’ stories are lost.

“This can further disadvantage people who already face marginalisation in health and social care services.”

The findings have been published in BMJ Digital Health and AI.