The AI doctor will see you now…

Yuval Noah Harari, the famous historian and the author of the very famous book called the ‘Homo Sapiens’ and
‘The Homo Deus’ has mentioned how AI will very soon be a big part of health industry!
Already the AI is efficient in reading the CT and X Ray reports with amazing accuracy! Sometimes even better than
the radiologist! The AI can also analyze reports such as ECG, Blood Gas and even take care of ventilator settings!
The AI can also be programmed to automatomatically prescribe medications based on age, gender and other different
parameters! In fact the AI can actually perform better when there is an issue of poly pharmacy and a patient needs
to be prescribed multiple medications! No doctor would come close in analyzing the interactions of all the
medication! Then again, every doctor would know the common side effects of any medications but only the AI can
even remember all the side effects and after analyzing the blood report of the patient can modify or avoid giving
the medication! Like if a particular medication like say the acetaminophen is needed to be prescribed, the AI would
automatically order the liver function test and if the parameters are abnormal then it would either reduce the dose
or suggest alternatives!
Another place where the AI can take over in the future is the delivery of news! If the results are normal and
everything is within normal limits then the AI can manage! Of course delivery of bad news and abnormal reports is
still a job for the Human and the Humane! But even this has been predicted to be done in the future by the AI! All it
needs is the creation of a specific algorithm and you just have to replicate that! Furthermore, the AI is not affected
by its own mood like a Human! If the AI needs to be considerate then it needs to be programmed and the work is
done! Imagine a doctor who never gets angry no matter how many questions you ask and no matter how many
doubts you seek! Imagine a doctor who is always smiling and never tired! Imagine a doctor who remembers all
your details including the fact that you have a sister in some corner of the world with some rare disease! Or that
you have a condition where you must avoid drugs which affect your kidney! Or that you had come several years ago
with the same issue and that particular treatment worked! The AI will remember it all!
AI is already a part of several surgeries like the thyroid, Skull base and GI surgery by giving additional arms and
guidance to the surgeon! But remember that in all these situations, the AI is an assistant and not your associate or
even partner! At no point can the AI take over!
Of course even if the AI does replace your doctor in the future, you must not fear! The role of the doctor is then to
monitor and supervise! Then the doctor would work only specific time without any physical or emotional fatigue!
And then the doctor would then have time to enjoy life!
Another important thing you must remember is the classic example of wrist watches such as ‘The Rolex’! There are
watches such as the apple watch or the Samsung watch which have so many features which the Rolex does not
have! All Rolex does is show time and there is a chance of error even in that! The apple and Samsung watches are
error free and very cost effective! But even now, Rolex is the status symbol and the watch which every successful
person wants if given a choice! Of course, it is because it is limited edition but more so because every Rolex has
been hand made and that gives it the human touch which the wearer wants!
It is the same for art! The AI nowadays can generate amazing art and you can buy that! But the collectible item
would be an art painted or made by the ‘Human’ hand! And that is the final issue of AI and medicine! If AI does in
future take the role of a physician or a surgeon, there will be limited number of Human doctors who would be in
demand; Limited edition Human Doctor! For all routine stuff you can see the AI who will take care of your routine
stuff and talk to you for hours without getting tired (though then the bill akin to a Taxi meter would be dependent
on the hours!); but if you want a special treatment and personal attention then you go to the premium Hundred
percent human package where you will be seen after a waiting period, by a human doctor!
Sounds like a good future to a doctor like me!

Dr. Sriram Nathan