Journal article
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Liability in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open, v 7(2), 100317
Apr 2026
PMID: 41625696
Featured in Collection : Drexel's Newest Publications
Abstract
As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly integrated into emergency department workflows, healthcare providers face a growing risk of legal liability stemming from improper use, particularly with respect to data privacy and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance. This article explores a realistic clinical scenario in which an emergency physician inadvertently violates HIPAA using a publicly available AI tool, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Llama, and Grok, without a valid Business Associate Agreement in place.
We review the legal framework of the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules and delineate the respective liabilities of healthcare institutions and individual clinicians. Key distinctions are made between incidental, accidental, and unauthorized disclosures of protected health information, and we provide clear guidance on post-breach mitigation steps. The article also discusses the statistical likelihood of protected health information reidentification or reproduction by AI models and outlines risks associated with state-level data protection laws.
Ultimately, we offer practical recommendations for physicians seeking to leverage AI responsibly in clinical care, including verifying institutional Business Associate Agreements, understanding platform-specific privacy policies, and consulting with privacy officers before entering any patient data. As AI rapidly evolves, clinicians must remain vigilant in safeguarding patient information to avoid legal exposure and uphold ethical standards of care.
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Details
- Title
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Liability in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence
- Creators
- Dave Schoolcraft - Ogden Murphy Wallace, Seattle, WAAndrew C. Meltzer - George Washington UniversityRohit Sangal - Yale School of MedicineAisha T. Terry - George Washington UniversityKatherine Robertson - Ogden Murphy Wallace, Seattle, WADaniel Buckland - University of Wisconsin–MadisonSakib Motalib - Inova Fairfax HospitalNicholas Genes - Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NYRade Vukmir - Drexel UniversityTayab Waseem - University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Publication Details
- Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open, v 7(2), 100317
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 7
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Emergency Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001676497800001
- Other Identifier
- 991022154842904721