Working alongside other health organisations, the British Liver Trust has successfully challenged inaccurate AI-generated health information, leading to some changes in how liver blood test results are presented in Google’s AI summaries, which is an important first step in wider, ongoing work to improve the accuracy of online health information.
Over recent months, we have been working in collaboration with a range of health organisations, including the Patient Information Forum (PIF), Macmillan Cancer Support, and the British Heart Foundation to raise concerns about the growing use of AI-generated summaries in online search results and the risks these pose when health information is inaccurate, incomplete or misleading.
Together, we highlighted multiple examples of AI-generated overviews presenting information in ways that could confuse or falsely reassure people, especially in the context of medical tests. The issue was covered by The Guardian and hundreds of media outlets worldwide, bringing global attention to concerns raised by health organisations and reinforcing the urgent need for stronger safeguards around AI-produced medical information
In early 2025, we identified a particularly concerning issue when people searched online for information about liver blood tests.
As Pamela Healy, our Chief Executive at the British Liver Trust, explains:
“One of the most alarming examples we have seen was when you type ‘What is the normal range for liver blood tests’ into Google and it gives misleading information for liver function tests.
Many people with liver disease show no symptoms until the late stages, which is why it’s so important that they get tested. But what the Google AI overviews say is ‘normal’ can vary drastically from what is actually considered normal. It’s dangerous because it means some people with serious liver disease may think they have a normal result and then not bother to attend a follow-up healthcare meeting.”
We raised these concerns collectively, setting out how inaccuracies like this could delay diagnosis, discourage follow-up care and ultimately put lives at risk. This joint approach helped ensure the issue was recognised not as an isolated problem, but as a wider challenge affecting public health information more broadly.
As a result of this work, Google has now adjusted its AI-generated summaries relating to liver blood tests — a positive and welcome step that demonstrates how expert-led feedback can lead to meaningful change.
Pamela Healy added:
“This is excellent news, and we’re pleased to see improvements in the AI-generated summaries for liver blood tests. However, if the question is asked in a different way, a potentially misleading AI overview may still be given, and we remain concerned that other AI-produced health information can be inaccurate and confusing.
We strongly encourage people to rely on trusted, expert-verified sources such as the British Liver Trust or the NHS for reliable guidance.”
While these changes represent progress, this work highlights the ongoing need for scrutiny, collaboration and public education to ensure that people seeking health advice online can trust the information they find.
These concerns are reinforced by a recent survey of PIF members, which found that almost half (49%) had seen inaccuracies or misinformation about their topic area in AI overviews. More than six in ten health charities also reported a decline in traffic to their websites since the rollout of AI-generated health summaries, raising concerns that people may not be accessing original source information or receiving vital professional context and support when it is most needed.
The coalition is therefore calling on Google and other search engine providers to take immediate action to reduce potential harm, including:
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clear signposting to NHS-approved advice and support services
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prioritisation of verified UK-based sources, with links to further information
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clear disclaimers that AI-generated content cannot substitute for medical advice
References
1. The Google AI Search results & the Health Sector report was produced in May 2025 and is being made available to the public for the first time. 70 organisations from across the health sector fed into the report, including NHS organisations and UK charities. You can download it here.