AI, privacy and the red line in healthcare with Phil O'Sullivan at Allens

This episode of future pharma tackles the fast-evolving world of privacy, regulation and AI in healthcare with Phil O’Sullivan, partner at commercial law firm Allens.

Phil explains how Australia’s principles-based Privacy Act is shifting, with much tougher penalties (including percentages of turnover) and growing expectations around governance, transparency, and use of patient data, especially as AI and LLMs move deeper into clinical support and patient-facing tools.

He draws a clear “red line” where technology starts to replace, rather than simply assist, clinicians and unpacks what that means for liability, innovation and product design in life sciences.

Throughout, he comes back to one core idea: organisations that want to innovate with AI and data need to operate above bare legal minimums, building trust through clear communication, strong safeguards and a realistic view of risk.