Utah Academy of Family Physicians Statement on the Doctronic Pilot Program

The Utah Academy of Family Physicians applauds innovation in healthcare and AI has the potential to provide some positive improvements in delivery of care and reduction of administrative burden. However, we have significant concerns with the apparent willingness to move forward with AI without the necessary guardrails and without the understanding that human involvement is still necessary to truly guarantee appropriate healthcare.

It was recently announced that a new AI prescribing system was being piloted in Utah, called Doctronic. While there may be some advantages to a more automated method for routine non-scheduled prescription refills, especially for those dealing with chronic illness, the lack of a human factor is cause for concern.

We share the concerns voiced by Dr. John Whyte, the CEO of the American Medical Association, “While AI has limitless opportunity to transform medicine for the better, without physician input it also poses serious risks to patients and physicians alike.”

Without the involvement of a trained healthcare provider, we risk the possibility of negative drug interactions, the lack of physical exams masking other underlying issues, lack of clarity around how and when a patient will be referred to their physician, and the risk of misuse or abuse.

We strongly urge the Utah Department of Commerce, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other relevant governing entities to look closely at the potential impact, to slow the pilot program and include human involvement in the initial phase. If AI represents the future, it comes with inherent risks. Therefore, when choosing to relinquish the human element to an algorithm, we should proceed with profound caution.