The Wire with Caeden

Concerns have been raised with medical professionals using AI scribes to transcribe patient notes.

This follows research by the University of Otago, where researchers surveyed 197 health providers in February and March last year into their experiences using AI in their practices.

40% surveyed had used AI scribes for patient notes, with most saying they had found AI helpful.

However, concerns have been raised over the potential legal and ethical consequences of AI scribing patient notes, such as through data security and  patient consent.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the lead researcher in the study, and Professor of Bioethics at the University of Otago, Wellington — Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, Pōneke, Angela Ballantyne, about AI scribing, and how AI should be regulated in this space.

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to MP Simon Court about the government’s proposed overhaul of the NCEA curriculum to a different curriculum.

Producer Alex spoke to Emeritus Professor at the University of Auckland, Ruth Bonita about the continued lower excise rate on heated tobacco products, and how it plays into combatting smoking harm and Aotearoa’s smokefree goals.

Joel spoke to Angela Ballantyne, a Professor of Bioethics at the University of Otago, on research she led into medical professionals using AI to transcribe patient notes and the concerns of doing so.

And Alex spoke to the Chair of the Meningitis Foundation, Gerard Rushton, about Pharmac’s decision to increase eligibility for the meningococcal B vaccine to all children under five, and the foundation’s desire to see funding expand to all young people.

Whakarongo mai!

The deadline for enrolling to vote in Local elections and nominations for candidates closed last week, with last minute pushes across the country to make sure as many seats as possible were being contested. 

There were concerns from the Electoral Commission and Local Councils across the country that some seats might go uncontested or only have one person running.

Producer Sanat wanted to understand what the state of local democracy is in Auckland and whether the council is doing enough to make sure it is healthy and thriving. 

Also in today’s discussion is a conversation about Regional Deals. Recently Auckland Council signed a memorandum of understanding with the government in order to begin “negotiating” a regional deal. 

Producer Sanat wanted to understand what a regional deal is and what it can do for Auckland, especially as recent unemployment and homelessness figures suggest that our city has been hit hardest by the recent economic downturn. 

He started off by asking Councillor Shane Henderson about the state of Auckland's Local Democracy.

“When Genocide Wasn’t News” is a recently released Canadian book that documents major Canadian news organisations' reporting on Gaza.

The book claims the media has “whitewashed Israeli violence, dehumanised Palestinians and smeared a growing protest movement.”

Gabriela Perdomo Páez, Assistant Professor of journalism at Mount Royal University, says journalists who support peace efforts can easily be accused of being “biased” in favour of those promoting peace. 

For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Perdomo Páez about Canadian news coverage of Gaza.