The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical practices has many advantages: less administrative work, faster patient communication and improved appointment organization. But as soon as personal health data comes into play, there is a central question: Is it even GDPR-compliant?
Data protection in healthcare is particularly sensitive, as patient data falls under the category of “particularly sensitive data” under Article 9 GDPR. Anyone who wants to use AI-based systems such as chatbots or digital assistants in their practice must therefore comply with certain guidelines.
In this blog post, we show what is allowed, what pitfalls there are — and how practices can use AI securely and in accordance with the law.
1. What does the GDPR regulate in the health sector?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) protects the personal data of all EU citizens and places strict requirements on its processing — particularly in the healthcare sector. Medical practices must ensure that:
✔ Patient data can only be processed with consent
✔ Data is securely stored and protected
✔ Patients have access and control over their data at any time
✔ Data is only processed for the necessary purpose (purpose limitation)
💡 Important: Violations of the GDPR can result in heavy fines — up to 4% of annual global turnover or 20 million euros.
2. Are AI chatbots even allowed in medical practices?
In short: Yes — but under certain conditions.
An AI-supported chatbot may be used in medical practices as long as it is GDPR-compliant. That means:
✅ No storage of sensitive patient data without consent
✅ Encrypted transfer of all chat content
✅ No access to health data without a healthcare professional
✅ Data storage only on GDPR-compliant servers (e.g. within the EU)
❌ Not allowed is:
✖ Automatic diagnosis by the chatbot (AI can advise but cannot replace medical diagnoses).
✖ Uncontrolled storage of health information.
✖ Using uncertified AI systems for medical decisions.
🔎 Conclusion: An AI chatbot that only performs administrative tasks (e.g. answers appointments or FAQs) is unproblematic. However, as soon as he works with health data, additional security measures must be taken.
3. What data can an AI chatbot process?
AI-based chatbots in medical practices may only store or further process certain types of data:
✅ Allowed (with privacy measures):
✔ Name, date of birth, contact details (for appointment management)
✔ Appointment bookings & reminders
✔ General medical information (e.g. vaccination FAQs, opening hours)
❌ Not allowed (without express consent):
✖ Information about illnesses or symptoms
✖ Diagnoses or treatment courses
✖ Medication prescriptions without medical examination
💡 Tip: If a chatbot goes beyond health issues, it should always refer patients to a healthcare professional.
4. How is the GDPR ensured in practice?
If practices want to use AI, they should implement these 5 data protection measures:
1. Choose GDPR-compliant providers
An AI chatbot must be hosted on servers within the EU and comply with GDPR guidelines. Providers from the USA (such as Google or OpenAI) could be problematic if the data is stored there.
2. Encrypted communication
All chatbot interactions must be end-to-end encrypted so that third parties cannot access the content.
3. Patients must agree to the use of data
Before the first conversation, a chatbot should display a privacy policy and ask the patient for consent.
4. Clear data protection guidelines in practice
The entire practice team should be trained how to deal with AI and data protection. If patient data is processed, a processing register must be kept in accordance with Art. 30 GDPR.
5. Guarantee patients' rights
According to the GDPR, patients have the right to:
✔ View your data
✔ Correction of incorrect data
✔ Deletion of your data (right to be forgotten)
💡 Important: Every practice should state in its privacy policy which data the AI chatbot processes and how it is protected.
Example 5: How a GDPR-compliant AI chatbot works
A patient asks the chatbot: “What vaccinations do I need for a trip to Thailand? ”
Not GDPR-compliant:
🚫 The chatbot stores the request and gives an individual medical recommendation based on previous conversations.
GDPR-compliant:
✅ The chatbot gives a general answer:
“Hepatitis A and typhoid fever are recommended for travel to Thailand. Please seek advice from your doctor. ”
✅ No need to save the request or link it to other patient data.
Conclusion: AI in medical practice — yes, but with care
✔ AI-based chatbots can be used securely and in compliance with GDPR in practices.
✔ Patient data must be protected and processed in encrypted form.
✔ Automatic diagnostics or uncertain data storage are not allowed.
With the right data protection measures, AI can help optimize everyday practice — without taking legal risks.
Would you like to use AI in your practice in a GDPR-compliant manner?
Amplinome offers intelligent, secure and GDPR-compliant AI chatbots specifically for medical practices. Our systems ensure efficient patient communication without data protection risks.
➡ Request a free demo now: www.amplinome.com
