Utah medical board calls for ‘suspension’ of AI doctor experiment

Utah medical board calls for ‘suspension’ of AI doctor experiment

Utah medical board calls for ‘suspension’ of AI doctor experiment

https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/24/doctronic-ai-doctor-pilot-utah-face-backlash-medical-board/

Publish Date: 2026-04-24 17:28:00

Source Domain: www.statnews.com

  • Mario Aguilar writes about technology in healthcare, focusing on AI, VR, wearable devices, telehealth, and digital therapeutics, exploring both advantages and challenges in integrating these technologies.
  • Utah’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy partnered with AI doctor startup Doctronic to implement a chatbot that autonomously evaluates patients and renews prescriptions for nearly 200 drugs without physician input.
  • Initially launched in January, this program has faced backlash from doctors, who argue that it was implemented without sufficient consultation.
  • The Utah Medical Licensing Board discovered the program post-launch and issued a request for its suspension, citing potential risks to patient safety and emphasizing the need for further discussions.
  • The article reveals ongoing debates about the ethical and safety considerations of healthcare AI technology and the necessary regulatory and stakeholder involvement to ensure its effective and safe use.