As artificial intelligence becomes part of daily routines, more people are quietly turning to chatbots for medical guidance. The growing reliance comes at a time when appointment slots are scarce and AI is demonstrating surprising competence in handling medical queries. Yet experts warn that the convenience comes with risks, especially when chatbots generate incorrect or misleading answers.

A recent report in the Daily Mail outlines how medical professionals are now offering clear rules to ensure AI is used safely and responsibly when it comes to health.

Why experts say chatbots should support treatment, not diagnosis

Pharmacist Deborah Grayson explains that AI can be helpful when someone already knows what they are dealing with. If you are certain you have a common infection or flu, a chatbot can offer practical steps such as rest or appropriate over-the-counter medicines.

The risk, she says, appears when people try to diagnose themselves using AI. ChatGPT often pulls from a wide range of sources and can blur the line between rare and likely illnesses, similar to searching symptoms online and concluding the worst. Without examining a patient directly, a chatbot cannot apply the clinical judgment that doctors rely on.

More detail means better answers

When users do turn to AI for clarity about symptoms, Grayson stresses the importance of detail. Vague, one-line questions often lead to broad or inaccurate possibilities. She advises listing all symptoms, the duration, medical history, and relevant context to get a more realistic picture.

Her caution is simple: the quality of the answer depends heavily on the quality of the information provided.

Becoming a more prepared patient

Experts also suggest using AI results as preparation before meeting a doctor. By reviewing possibilities in advance, patients can ask targeted questions during the short appointment window.

Grayson says many hesitant or nervous patients find this helpful, as it allows them to walk in more confident and informed. AI can also help users judge whether symptoms require urgent attention or if they can wait for a routine appointment.

Be specific about sources

To improve accuracy, experts recommend instructing chatbots to rely on trusted references. Users can request information only from verified platforms such as the NHS website, government health pages, or research databases like PubMed.

If an answer has already been generated, users can ask the chatbot to reveal the source. This helps identify whether the guidance originated from credible medical pages or unreliable third party sites.

When AI should never be used

Despite the convenience, professionals underline that chatbots are not suitable for every scenario. Red flag symptoms require immediate human intervention. These include unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, severe fatigue, continuous vomiting, abnormal bleeding, intense pain, heart rate issues, or sudden changes in bowel movements.

Grayson adds that people often overlook the accessibility of pharmacists, who can quickly assess symptoms and offer guidance without an appointment.

The balance between accessibility and safety

With AI becoming a common starting point for health questions, experts emphasise that the goal should not be to replace doctors but to use chatbots wisely. They can make patients more informed, more confident, and more prepared, but only when used with clear limitations.

As more individuals turn to digital tools for medical support, understanding when to trust AI and when to turn to real experts may be the key to safer, smarter healthcare.