The Lack of Love Coming to Medicine- Maybe

Mark Ackerman, PABy Mark Ackerman, PA

Authors Disclosure: This article was written in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence.

An increasingly more common question I get in the office these days from patients is some form of the question “When is your job going to be replaced by AI?” I never really know how to answer this, but I have come to recognize that I can’t ignore the question.  At some point, there will be an answer to that, whether I like it or not. This idea of having a computer software program for your medical provider is supported by research showing that about 50% of patients enter their symptoms into google and decide on their diagnosis before they ever go see a doctor about their medical problems. A recent AI search in fact says that 89% of the US population at least does a search on Google before they go to the doctor but it is unknown how many of those people actually decide on their diagnosis or give themselves a treatment plan- although this is also becoming more popular. At one point, the estimate was at least 11% of the population was doctoring themselves entirely from internet resources. Probably, the only reason more don’t do this is due to the lack of prescribing ability and so they turn to nutraceuticals to help with their treatment.

 

While it is clear that patients have taken to the internet to help themselves get information on their medical problems it is also clear that doctors themselves are increasingly using AI to help themselves get answers to complex medical questions. There are multiple programs out there that are helping to sort out potential diagnoses and treatment plans more efficiently. Some of these include radiology programs that can spot abnormalities in imaging. Others are creating personalized treatment plans based on a combination of genetics, lifestyle and past medical history for patients and some are powering robotic surgery.

 

But, before we all glom on to AI as any savior of medicine, we have to realize that there are several things that AI can’t do. First off, because AI is about data and efficiency, it cannot actually do what is the best thing for patients- have a relationship with them. True relationships are not based on data and efficiency and in fact are based on the opposite- spending time with someone.  To care for someone, is to want to spend time with them even if things don’t get accomplished. True caring is not about efficiency and decreased time to make a plan; it is about how to increase the time we spend with each other even if it doesn’t look like much got accomplished.  Caring is about forming the bonds of trust with another human being rather than a computer program.

 

So, the bottom line here is that AI can be a great tool for getting more efficient answers, but it can also be the cause for breaking up your relationship with the person who actually cares for you. You don’t have to have a lack of love in medicine. Just use AI as a tool and not as a substitute for your doctor.