New rules from India's National Medical Commission prohibit doctors and hospitals from using artificial intelligence to create patient testimonials, promotional material or unverified claims about treatment.
The rules also ban fake endorsements, synthetic patient voices and payments to manipulate rankings in search engines and apps. Doctors may not make unsupported claims of guaranteed cures or “100% success,” or pay influencers and platforms to procure patients.
Medical institutions may not offer discounts, coupons or referral benefits if these are likely to encourage unnecessary consultations. The regulator allows factual, non-promotional health education on social media.
The guidelines restrict the use of patient photographs without valid consent and safeguards. A first violation can bring a warning and mandatory ethics training, while a second can result in censure and a fine. A third violation may bring suspension for 3–6 months, and serious violations can lead to suspension for 6–12 months. Repeated violations may result in removal from the medical register for 1–3 years.