Hi Chris, and all,
Thank you for sharing the recent release of AI health applications and caution about using them. Here's a NYTimes article (free access provided) that discusses some of the pros and cons of the ChatGPT product: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/well/medical-records-chatbots.html?un...
I agree that lack of compliance with GDPR laws is likely an issue in the EU and UK. The article states, "HIPAA, the [US] federal health privacy law, doesn’t apply to the companies behind popular chatbots. Legally, said Bradley Malin, a professor of biomedical informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 'you’re basically waiving any rights that you have with respect to medical privacy,' leaving only the protections that a given company chooses to offer." The article states that it is possible to opt out of having one's data used for training purposes, but that many people don't check that box.
Definitely caveat emptor.
Margaret
Margaret Winker, MD
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World Association of Medical Editors
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HIFA profile: Margaret Winker is Trustee and Past President of the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) and Director of the WAME eLearning Program. She is based in the US. Professional interests: WAME is a global association of editors of peer-reviewed medical journals who seek to foster cooperation and communication among editors, improve editorial standards, promote professionalism in medical editing through education, self-criticism, and self-regulation, and encourage research on the principles and practice of medical editing. margaretwinker AT gmail.com