The AMA says AI is best used in conjunction with face-to-face patient contact.
The rapidly-growing role of AI in healthcare was highlighted this week with media claims that it is doing a better job than human doctors.
However, the AMA has cautioned and underlined the importance of having a "real doctor" to oversee AI use to ensure it's safe and ethical use.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Australian patients have started receiving AI-guided drug therapy for epilepsy.
It was reported that Zongyuan Ge, the director augmented intelligence and multimodal analytics at Monash University's Health lab, said, "In the past 10 years, one thing has become very clear. AI is already doing a better job than human doctors.
"There is very clear evidence on that."
The Sydney Morning Herald said medical bodies and AI developers urge patients to remain cautious and underlining it is not a substitute for doctors.
AMA Vice President, Associate Professor Julian Rait, said, "To assess someone properly, they need to be sitting in front of us."
The AMA has a position statement on AI in healthcare .
It says in such a fluid and rapidly-expanding environment, the development and implementation of AI technologies must be undertaken with appropriate consultation, transparency, accountability and regular ongoing review to determine its clinical and social impacts.
This is to ensure that AI continues to benefit and not harm patients, healthcare professionals and the wider community.
