Given all the hype around surgical robots and the precision which they offer; and the claim that IT company’s robot can diagnose cancer better than doctors can, a lot of doctors are worried that they will become obsolete.
There is a lot of talk by futurists that the job of doctors will be taken over by artificial intelligence algorithms and robots, but this is an unfounded fear. The truth is that most of the skills which make a doctor especially effective, such as talking to patients, being able to think on their feet during an emergency, and dealing with complex problems, will remain uniquely human.
Yes, change will happen, because a lot of the routine clerical scut work will be automated, and this is all for the best, which is why doctors should welcome the intelligent use of technology.
Instead of replacing doctors, the AI will make them more efficient, because the software will handle the routine tasks and doctors will be freed up to do the more complex, high-end jobs, such as talking to and reassuring their patients in their hour of need.
Everyone will be happier because technology will supplement the doctor’s skills, not supplant them. After all, a human is more important than hardware, and this combination will allow patients to make the best of both man and machine.
Doctors will be freed up to do what they do best and should be happy to let machines do the rest.
Let’s not forget that patients are human, just as doctors are, and we all need a shoulder to cry on when we are ill !
Good thoughts. However the danger lies in a generation of certificate for a surgeon robot which let’s say a car manufacturer appoint them in a hospital which has no real doctors… That’s a danger
Yes. Hopefully, the legal liability will stop them from doing this !