California Bans Deceptive AI Medical Advice
A recent California law that went into effect on January 1, 2026, bans the use of AI technology to provide medical advice if there is any suggestion that the advice is coming from a real person. It prohibits the use of any language that suggests that an actual person who is licensed to practice any health care profession is behind any “care, advice, reports, or assessments” when the actual source of that information is an artificial intelligence or generative artificial intelligence tool.
The LLF National Law Firm’s Professional License Defense Team can help you navigate this new law if you control a website or app that provides AI-sourced healthcare information. Contact us at 888.535.3686, or use our online contact form to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case.
The California Law Relating to Health Advice from Artificial Intelligence
The new law affects any website or app (or “system or device”) that relies on AI technology to help deliver healthcare-related advice. In essence, it prohibits using AI tools to provide this kind of advice if there is any suggestion that AI-sourced information is coming from a human person and not an AI tool. If that happens, those responsible for the site or app can be subject to enforcement, including penalties, from whichever professional licensing agency is responsible for the type of advice that is given.
Depending on the advice offered by the AI tool, the enforcement agency could include:
- California Board of Registered Nursing
- California Board of Psychology
- Medical Board of California
- Dental Board of California
Other licensing boards could also be involved, again depending on the type of advice that the AI tool provides.
AI-Sourced Advice is Not Prohibited
Note that the new law does not prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to provide healthcare advice to the public. Instead, its focus is on making sure that if a website or app does offer this kind of AI-sourced healthcare advice, it does not indicate or imply that the advice is “being provided by a natural person in possession of the appropriate license or certificate.”
Because of this, if you are responsible for a website, app, or other system that is using AI to deliver any medical or psychological advice to the public, you need to take steps to make sure that it is clear that the information is coming from an AI tool, and not from a licensed practitioner. It is also important to keep in mind that because the Internet crosses state lines, a website or app located outside of California could be the target of an enforcement action by a licensing agency within California if the website violates this new California law and can be used by California residents.
The LLF National Law Firm Can Help You Comply with California Law
If you are responsible for a website or tool, or any other system that uses AI to provide healthcare-related advice, the LLF National Law Firm’s Professional License Defense Team can help you understand the new California law and make sure you are not in violation. In addition, if any California state licensing agency has threatened or brought an enforcement action against you, our experienced attorneys can help you protect your rights and can defend you against the action. We have the experience and understanding of healthcare licensing laws and regulations that apply all across the country, including in California, and are ready to use that experience to help you.
Call the LLF National Law Firm’s Professional License Defense Team today at 888.535.3686, or submit our online contact form, and we will schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case and explain how we can help.