Consultant worrying about AI transcription errors
How Accurate Is AI Really?
AI transcription tools claim to have error rates as low as 5% in ideal conditions. While this might sound impressive, even a small percentage of errors can cause major problems in medical or legal documents. Think about it: 5% means 1 in every 20 words could be wrong. If your report contains 1,000 words, that could mean 50 errors. Imagine if those errors included critical terms like confusing “hypertension” with “hypertensive crisis” or misinterpreting “metastasis” as “metastable”—it’s not just inconvenient; it could jeopardise a patient’s treatment or a legal case. Can you afford to take that risk?
As an example, in October 2024, The Verge reported that an AI transcription tool used in hospitals “hallucinated” – a term used when AI generates information that wasn’t said. In one case, the tool falsely transcribed a doctor’s dictation about a patient’s cancer treatment, inserting medications that were never mentioned. This kind of error could lead to miscommunication between healthcare professionals and potentially harmful treatments for patients. (Source)
Similarly, a report from AP News highlighted instances where AI transcription tools mis transcribed critical medical terms. For example, the term “metastasis” (used to describe the spread of cancer) was erroneously transcribed as “metastable” (a term unrelated to medical contexts). In another case, “hypertension” (high blood pressure) was misheard as “hypertensive crisis,” leading to alarmist and inaccurate medical records. Errors like these not only waste time but also put patients at significant risk.
Human transcriptionists, on the other hand, typically achieve 99% accuracy or higher, especially when they are trained in specific fields like medico-legal work. They can double-check details and flag anything that seems unclear or ambiguous, significantly reducing the risk of errors.
Templates: Can AI Handle Custom Requirements?
Many consultants use specific report templates to ensure their reports follow a consistent structure. For example, certain sections may always include details like patient history, findings, and conclusions. But AI tools often struggle to understand where specific details should go, especially when the speaker doesn’t explicitly clarify.
Imagine a consultant dictating a report that includes a mix of medical history, diagnosis, and treatment plans. While a skilled transcriptionist can accurately place these details into the correct sections of a template, an AI tool might jumble the information or place it in the wrong sections. The result? A report that’s harder to read, less useful, and potentially confusing.
Strong Accents and Poor Audio Quality
AI tools are typically trained on standardised speech patterns, which means they’re far better at understanding speakers with neutral accents and clear audio. However, in real-world situations, audio quality is often less than perfect. There could be background noise, overlapping speech, or a speaker with a strong regional accent.
For instance, a Scottish consultant dictating notes might pronounce certain words differently from how the AI expects. A transcriptionist could easily adapt to this, but an AI tool might misinterpret key phrases. A report by AP News revealed that AI transcription software had difficulty understanding strong accents, leading to errors such as “manual drainage” being transcribed as “manual training” – a mistake that changes the context entirely. (Source)
Complex Dictations and Multiple Speakers
AI transcription tools work best when there’s one person speaking clearly. But what happens when a transcription involves multiple speakers or overlapping dialogue? This is common in medico-legal scenarios like expert witness meetings or case discussions.
For example, in a legal setting where a lawyer and a consultant discuss a patient’s condition, an AI tool might struggle to correctly attribute statements to the right speaker. Worse, it could merge sentences or misinterpret interruptions, leading to a transcript that’s incoherent or misleading. Human transcriptionists, however, are skilled at identifying different speakers and ensuring accuracy, even in challenging audio.
The Hidden Cost of Human Review
Many professionals using AI transcription tools feel the need to manually review and edit the output. This takes time and negates much of the cost and efficiency savings that AI is supposed to provide. In fact, it often results in consultants spending more time checking work than they would have spent reviewing a human-prepared transcript.
For instance, a consultant who dictated a complex medico-legal report may find themselves spending hours correcting AI-generated errors in medical terminology or patient details. If you wouldn’t feel the need to review a transcript prepared by a professional, why tolerate this inefficiency with AI?
The Bigger Picture
AI transcription tools are not inherently bad; they can work well for certain types of tasks, like transcribing casual meetings or creating rough drafts. But when it comes to medico-legal transcription, the stakes are simply too high. The risks of errors, misinterpretation, and inefficiency outweigh the benefits of speed and cost savings.
Before making the switch to AI tools, consider these critical questions:
- Can you afford even a small error in your transcription?
- Are you comfortable trusting a machine with sensitive and complex information?
- How much time are you willing to spend reviewing and correcting AI output?
- Could an error damage your professional reputation or the trust of your clients?
At JA Transcription, we pride ourselves on delivering highly accurate, reliable, and personalised transcription services tailored to your needs. Why not compare the results for yourself? We offer 10 minutes of free dictation to let you experience the quality difference first-hand. Don’t wait – send us your audio file today and see how our skilled human transcriptionists provide precise, error-free reports that AI tools simply can’t match. It’s time to raise the bar for your medico-legal transcriptions. With experienced transcriptionists who understand the complexities of medico-legal work, we’re here to help you focus on what you do best: caring for your clients and patients.
