Reader spots neurologist using ChatGPT during consultation — is it allowed?

A reader identified as Luīze reached out to LA.LV to describe an unsettling experience during a visit to a neurologist. During the consultation, she noticed that the doctor, in plain view, used the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT. This left her confused and concerned, especially since her own health was the subject being discussed.

Luīze asked the newsroom whether such a practice is acceptable during a medical consultation, and how safe it is to entrust an AI system with information about a patient's health.

What the Health Service says

LA.LV sought clarification from Latvia's National Health Service. The agency explained that medical professionals are allowed to use various information sources and digital tools in their professional work, including for reviewing guidelines, clinical algorithms or patient care pathways. If a patient has questions or concerns about how a digital tool is being used during a consultation, they have the right to ask the doctor to explain its purpose.

The data protection angle

The newsroom notes that such cases raise concerns not only about a doctor's professional judgment but also about the protection of patients' personal data. In July 2026, Latvia's Data State Inspectorate clarified that personal data protection requirements also apply to artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT. If a medical institution uses AI to analyze patients' medical data, it must first carefully assess the related data protection risks and put in place appropriate security measures. The Inspectorate also stressed the importance of the principles of data minimization, lawfulness, transparency and security in such cases.