Dental Check-Up Spirals Into Police Intervention Over AI Dispute
A routine dental appointment for a Melbourne mother-of-two took an extraordinary turn when her periodontist called police to arrest her after she refused to allow artificial intelligence to be used during her treatment.
Caerwin Martin, a 52-year-old composer, was seeking treatment for a persistent toothache when the situation rapidly escalated. The specialist asked for her consent to use an AI program to take clinical notes and write referrals, triggering concerns about privacy and data security.
'I'm just so shocked,' Ms Martin told the Daily Mail. 'It was just the most bizarre situation. I had the cops called for not wanting to use AI to take my notes.'
The Confrontation Unfolds
The incident occurred last week during a specialist appointment that Ms Martin had been referred to after experiencing ongoing dental pain. When the periodontist explained he used AI for note-taking and referral writing, the musician immediately expressed her objections.
'I said no, I'm a musician and I'm divesting from AI,' she explained. Her refusal prompted an immediate change in the dentist's demeanour. 'He kind of froze and looked at his assistant and after that, he became really agitated.'
After a brief examination lasting approximately 30 seconds, the dentist determined she needed a referral. Ms Martin observed that he seemed 'annoyed and was really jittery and kind of bouncing his leg angrily.'
Security Concerns Spark Heated Exchange
As the dentist sat down to write the referral, the topic of AI resurfaced. Ms Martin elaborated on her concerns: 'I told him I didn't think it was safe and I had security concerns about it.'
The dentist responded by claiming her concerns were 'legally untrue' and stated he 'couldn't allow me to say things that were legally untrue.' Ms Martin described this exchange as 'really weird' and admitted she didn't understand his statement.
The situation intensified when the dentist revealed they weren't using ChatGPT but refused to provide further details about the AI software. Ms Martin suggested the dentist needed to 'regulate himself' and asked if he wanted her to leave the appointment.
Police Called to Dental Practice
After leaving the treatment room and proceeding to reception to pay for her appointment, the dentist followed Ms Martin into the waiting area and dramatically instructed staff to 'call the police.'
The receptionist, appearing 'perplexed' according to Ms Martin, dialled triple-0 - Australia's emergency number. The patient remained calmly seated in the waiting room until officers arrived.
'The police officer thought it was quite funny,' Ms Martin recalled. 'He walked up and said, "What's going on?" This was a triple-0 call - an emergency - and there's me sitting calmly in the waiting room.'
After speaking briefly with police, Ms Martin left the practice and has not heard back from authorities since the incident.
Broader Implications for AI in Healthcare
Following the confrontation, Ms Martin contacted the Dental Board of Australia for guidance. 'They were amazing,' she reported. 'They said I absolutely did have the right to choose and what happened shouldn't have happened.'
The composer, who has ethical objections to artificial intelligence, connected her stance to recent government action. Last month, Australian authorities blocked AI companies from training their models on Australian creative works without permission or royalty payments.
'I'm a musician and I'm offended that the government had to step in to stop AI from hoovering up all of our stuff,' she explained. 'So I have a boycott on AI anyway and I don't think AI is good for the world.'
Beyond her creative industry concerns, Ms Martin emphasised specific worries about medical AI: 'I also don't want my medical records to be written by anyone other than the medical professional. I'm very concerned that ChatGPT had leaks. I don't think it's secure and I don't trust it.'
While acknowledging that time-pressed medical professionals might find AI appealing for efficiency and cost-saving, she maintains that patients should always retain the right to refuse such technology without facing confrontation or police involvement.
The incident raises important questions about patient consent, data security, and the appropriate implementation of artificial intelligence in healthcare settings, highlighting the need for clear protocols and respectful patient communication.
