Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa’s Nicole Kruegel: Mental Health Care Should Not Be AI’s Testing Ground

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., July 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As healthcare providers across the country continue exploring the use of artificial intelligence in patient care, Nicole Kruegel of Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa is urging healthcare organizations to ensure that innovation never outpaces patient safety—particularly when treating individuals experiencing mental health crises.

Kruegel’s comments follow a groundbreaking report this week by San Francisco public broadcaster KQED detailing concerns raised during a hearing before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors regarding Kaiser Permanente’s proposed use of AI and automated tools in aspects of its mental health services. According to KQED’s reporting, therapists and union representatives argued that expanded reliance on algorithms and automated triage could undermine access to licensed mental health professionals.