Expert Witness Journal Issue 68 August 2026 - Flipbook - Page 103
What are the risks of using AI
in pharmacy?
by Natasha Ricioppo, Senior Associate, Joanne Staphnill, Consultant Solicitor &
Tracy Sell-Peters, Partner at Keystone Law.
Arti昀椀cial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being
integrated into healthcare settings, including
pharmacy practice. Current and anticipated
uses include clinical decision-support systems,
prescription-checking software, patient-facing
chatbots, and work昀氀ow automation tools.
Lessons from other professions
There have not yet been any reported clinical
negligence cases against pharmacists in respect
of their use of AI. However, incidents involving
other professions give an indication of the risks for
pharmacists and how the courts might approach
cases.
AI is widely expected to improve e昀케ciency and patient
care, but also introduces new legal, regulatory,
and professional risks. Historically, there has been
limited guidance on the use of AI by pharmacy
professionals, but regulators are now responding.
In April 2026, the General Pharmaceutical Council
(“GPhC”) published a new position statement on
the use of AI in pharmacy, recognising both the
opportunities and risks.
In Ayinde v London Borough of Haringey [2025],
the High Court held that legal professionals have a
professional duty to verify caselaw authorities before
relying on them. The court was highly critical of
the submission of AI-generated material that had
not been independently checked, and emphasised
that reliance upon generative AI does not excuse
professional failings.
The GPhC’s guidance emphasises that AI should
support, rather than replace, professional judgment.
Pharmacists remain accountable for the decisions
they make and for the care provided to patients,
regardless of whether AI tools form part of their
decision-making.
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
This and other publicised incidents involving legal
services highlight some themes:
101
•
over-reliance on AI outputs;
•
failure to identify inaccuracies or
“hallucinations”;
AUGUST 2026
