An unprecedented medical trial in America: a smart robot reviews prescriptions as doctors raise warnings

The U.S. state of Utah has launched a new pilot that places artificial intelligence at the heart of healthcare services, through a program that allows patients to renew some of their prescriptions electronically using an AI-powered chatbot called Doctronic, in a move that has opened a broad debate over the limits of technology’s role in medical decisions.

Under the pilot program, patients can request prescription renewals online without needing to visit clinics. The system reviews the prescription data and the patient’s medical record, and if there are no indicators requiring intervention, the renewal request is sent directly to the pharmacy. Cases that require further evaluation, however, are referred to a specialist physician through a telehealth service.

The entry of artificial intelligence into this field has nevertheless raised reservations among a number of doctors and legal experts, who warned against granting smart systems powers linked to treatment decisions. They stressed that prescribing medications remains the responsibility of licensed healthcare professionals under U.S. law, and that any expansion of this use requires strict regulatory safeguards.

At its current stage, the program is being overseen by a board that includes AI specialists, while human review of prescription renewal requests continues. However, the company’s plans to move in the future to a fully automated system have drawn objections from Utah’s medical licensing board, which called for the project to be halted, warning of the possibility of errors, especially when dealing with sensitive medications that may be affected by drug interactions or certain health conditions.

By contrast, supporters of using artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector believe these technologies can serve as a tool to assist doctors by speeding up medical services and expanding access to healthcare, particularly amid the growing need for innovative solutions in this sector.

Experts say the future of artificial intelligence in medicine will remain tied to the ability to strike a balance between benefiting from technological advances and preserving patient safety, by establishing clear regulatory frameworks that ensure the safe and responsible use of this technology.