S2 Ep 13 - AI in Healthcare: The Pitfalls You Need to Know (Part 2)

Welcome to another episode of the Pain Free Living podcast hosted by Bob Allen, osteopath, and Clare Elsby, therapy coach.

This is part two of our series exploring the use of AI in healthcare and therapy, with this episode focusing on where caution, context, and human judgement still matter most.

You’ll find out why we both actively use AI, while remaining clear about its limitations. Clare introduces her practical 20–60–20 rule, which is all about framing a question in the right way.

Bob expands on this from a clinical perspective, explaining why AI without context can produce confident but misleading health advice.

We also explore therapy chatbots and mental health AI. These tools can feel reassuring and accessible, but they often rely on agreement and validation rather than the gentle challenge and emotional nuance that therapy coaches like Clare use every day.

We discuss AI safety in mental health, highlighting why safeguarding and clear boundaries are essential. While platforms are improving safety features, AI is not a replacement for qualified care.

The key message? AI can be brilliant as a supportive tool not a decision-maker. Don’t worry if this feels complex; awareness is the first step to getting the most AI.

⭐ 5 Key Takeaways
AI predicts answers, and if it can't find an answer, it can hallucinate i.e. make stuff up
The better and more detailed the prompt, the better the AI response
Therapy chatbots reassure but don’t challenge
Unlike AI, human clinicians can read nuance and movement
AI should support healthcare, not replace it

🔔 Disclaimer
This podcast provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek qualified healthcare advice if you have existing pain with new or worsening symptoms, or any concerns about your health, before starting exercise or self-care routines.

🔔 Additional links
🤣The South Park AI clip 🤣    • “French Fries Into Salad?" South Park Nail...  

TRIGGER WARNING: This link takes you to an article Clare discusses in the podcast, looking at the potential role of AI in a teenager's death by suicide https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/26/te...

How AI can be used to detect heart problems https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/new...

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