FCA authorised · FRN 724952 0117 325 0027Quote & buy →
Aipedia: Osteopaths and chiropractors
Usually, a claim from AI-assisted treatment is handled as a claim about your professional services, which statutory cover must include, but it depends on the wording and what you disclosed. The GOsC tells osteopaths to check whether their insurer requires an AI declaration.
Part of: AI in osteopaths and chiropractors
In short
Osteopaths and chiropractors must hold indemnity covering negligence, public and product liability, liability for staff and associates, claimants' costs and defence costs, with at least £5m in the aggregate and run-off after they stop practising. Neither set of rules mentions AI. A claim arising from AI-assisted care is usually treated like any other treatment claim, subject to the policy terms. The questions to check are whether your insurer requires AI use to be declared, whether any technology, data or cyber exclusion applies, how apps you supply are treated and whether one aggregate limit is enough.
For osteopaths, section 37 of the Osteopaths Act 1993 and the GOsC indemnity rules (SI 2015/693) apply. For chiropractors, the GCC indemnity rules (SI 2015/1511), in force since 16 July 2015, apply. Both prescribe the same risks and the same minimum:
| Requirement | Osteopaths | Chiropractors |
|---|---|---|
| Negligent acts, errors or omissions | Rule 4(a) | Rule 4 |
| Public and product liability | Rule 4(b) | Rule 4 |
| Liability for employees, partners, associates, co-directors and agents | Rule 4(c) | Rule 4 |
| Claimants' legal costs and defence costs | Rule 4(d) and (e) | Rule 4 |
| Minimum limit | £5m in the aggregate (Rule 5) | £5m in the aggregate (Rule 5) |
| Run-off | Rule 6 | Rule 6 |
None of this is limited by how a service was delivered, so the requirement applies equally to AI-assisted work.
An aggregate limit is the most the policy pays for all claims in the period and, depending on the wording, may include defence costs. AI raises a specific concern: one flawed tool used across many patients, for example a planning system that suggests unsuitable treatment or a scribe that systematically misrecords a finding, could produce several claims in one year. They would all draw on the same aggregate. The statutory £5m is a minimum; consider whether it is enough for your practice and for a clinic where many practitioners share tools. See aggregate limits explained.
Rule 6 in both sets of rules requires cover to continue after you stop practising, after you change provider and for claims made at any time after the event. That matters for AI because errors in AI-drafted records or plans may only surface when a patient brings a claim years later. Check how your current policy and any previous policies handle run-off, especially if you change insurer after adopting AI tools. See run-off cover explained.
The statutory rules include product liability, and the GCC says cover must include products sold or recommended. If you recommend, sell or brand an exercise app or other software, check whether your policy treats software as a product and whether it was disclosed. See AI home exercise apps.
The GOsC interim AI guidance tells osteopaths to check whether their insurers "require any specific declaration about their use of AI" in clinical practice. The GCC says nothing about AI, but the same logic applies. Under the duty of fair presentation, a material change in how you practise may need to be disclosed, and a failure could affect a claim. Answer proposal questions accurately and keep a record. The GOsC treats lapses in cover seriously, and the GCC calls them "a serious matter", so a dispute over cover can become a registration issue too. See fair presentation of the risk.
Points to check in your wording include:
For background, see AI exclusions and clauses and what to document about AI use.
List your AI tools, tell your insurer or broker what they do, ask whether a declaration is needed and keep the answer. Check the aggregate and run-off position. Make sure associates know whether they are covered. Related: GOsC and GCC on AI, AI in multi-practitioner clinics and the osteopaths and chiropractors AI hub.
Apex arranges indemnity that meets the statutory requirements for osteopaths and chiropractors, and a broker reviews how your wording treats AI-assisted work. See PI for osteopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists.
The statutory rules do not mention AI, and whether a policy contains an AI, technology, data or cyber exclusion depends on its wording. Read the exclusions and definitions, and ask your insurer or broker directly how AI-assisted work is treated.
The GOsC tells osteopaths to check whether their insurer requires a specific declaration. Under the duty of fair presentation, material changes in practice may need disclosing anyway. Ask, answer accurately and keep a record.
The £5m aggregate is a statutory minimum for all claims in the period; check whether defence costs sit inside it. A single flawed tool could cause several claims, so consider a higher limit, particularly for clinics.
Both sets of rules require run-off, so cover must continue after you stop practising. How it is provided depends on the policy, so check before you retire or change insurer.
Tell us about your firm and the work you do. A broker will review how your current PI treats AI-assisted work, or arrange new cover. No fee for a quote. Or call 0117 325 0027.
Start a PI quote Request a callbackApex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information about how AI is used in the profession and how insurance may respond. It is not legal, regulatory or insurance advice on your circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.
