Patna: Doctors have cautioned against the growing misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and online medical tools by untrained users, warning that self-diagnosis and treatment without professional supervision can endanger patient safety and lead to serious health consequences.The warning comes on the eve of World Patient Safety Day 2026, whose theme, “Safe Care for Life”, focuses on ensuring safe care for people living with non-communicable diseases.Doctors said AI can enhance precision in complex surgeries, aid analysis of medical data and streamline treatment protocols when used by trained professionals. However, experts warned that incorrect interpretation of AI-generated information can trigger unnecessary panic, delay timely medical intervention and, in extreme cases, prove life-threatening.The risks came into sharp focus in Saran last year. A 15-year-old boy, Krishna Kumar, died after a local clinic operator in Bhuwalpur village allegedly attempted to perform gallbladder stone surgery after following an online tutorial. The incident occurred in Sept 2025.Former Bihar IMA president Dr Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said AI must be integrated into medical education and healthcare through a robust policy framework.“Misuse of AI and online medical tools can be disastrous. It can be even more dangerous than treatment by quacks and may cause severe suffering,” he said.Dr Prasad added that the growing availability of medical information online has also altered doctor-patient interactions.“Many people now arrive with a preconceived diagnosis after researching symptoms online. Doctors often struggle to persuade them otherwise because of time constraints, and that is not a healthy trend,” he said.A 37-year-old Patna resident recalled how an AI-powered tool left her distressed after she used it to interpret a medical report.“It was an alpha-fetoprotein test, and the tool suggested cancer. I thought my world had ended. Thankfully, my doctor later reviewed the report and explained that while there was a medical complication, it was not cancer,” she said.Dermatologists said the problem is especially evident in skin-related cases, with people uploading photographs of rashes, lesions, moles and infections to AI-powered image-analysis tools.PMCH associate professor and dermatologist Dr Pankaj Tiwary said such tools often present alarming possibilities without establishing a definitive diagnosis.“AI may suggest that a facial mole is melanoma, a type of skin cancer more common in the Western world. Earlier this week, parents brought a six-month-old child to us in a state of panic after an AI tool indicated cancer. That was not the case,” he said.He added that youngsters experiencing hair loss frequently upload scalp photographs and receive long lists of suggested tests, while white patches are sometimes incorrectly identified as vitiligo or even leprosy.
