Using an AI scribe means a conversation is being documented from audio, so treat it like any recording: inform the patient and obtain their consent. Recording-consent laws vary by state, and some require the consent of every party to a conversation, so the specifics depend on where you practice. This is practical guidance, not legal advice.
Why consent matters here
Beyond the legal question, consent is a trust question. Patients are more comfortable when they understand what is happening, and the framing is genuinely favorable: you are telling them you will spend the visit looking at them instead of a keyboard. Handled well, disclosing the scribe tends to raise confidence rather than lower it.
Language that works
Most clinicians settle on a single sentence at the start of the visit: that they use a documentation assistant that listens to the conversation and drafts the note, that the audio is not stored, and that the patient can decline. That is usually all it takes. The fact that the audio is never stored is worth saying out loud, because it is the part patients most want to hear.
Good practice around consent
- Mention it once at the first visit, and note the consent in the record.
- In telehealth, say it on camera at the start of the call.
- If a patient declines, end the session from the Quick Bar and document manually. The tool never requires the patient to agree.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need patient consent to use an AI scribe?
Treat it like any recording: inform the patient and obtain consent. Recording-consent laws vary by state, and some require every party's consent, so follow the rules where you practice. This is practical guidance, not legal advice.
What should I tell patients about the AI scribe?
A single sentence usually works: that you use a documentation assistant that listens and drafts the note, that the audio is not stored, and that they can decline. Patients generally respond well, because it means you spend the visit with them rather than a keyboard.
What if a patient does not consent?
End the session from the Quick Bar and document the visit manually. Clinic Scribe never requires the patient to agree, and consent is always the clinician's call to obtain.