Nowadays a lot of technological advances have been made in the healthcare industry, improving the quality of care. Different artificial intelligence technologies help doctors assess the health risks of a patient. Moreover, AI can monitor and advice patients on the side effects of certain medication.
With data-science of the human body and mathematical algorithms AI can make a faster and more accurate diagnose compared to medical professionals. Hence, specialists can make a more rapid decisions and actions in critical circumstances.
Artificial intelligence has the ability to store information like medical records, clinical trials, research data and real-time data (e.g. personal fitness bands). Using analytics and insights this technology can give the best diagnoses and even compare the results with prior cases for more effectiveness. AI is a valuable asset for the healthcare industry, especially in early diagnoses of diseases and therefore early treatment.
Machine learning is progressing rapidly; IBM Watson uses an AI technology that can diagnose certain types of cancer and recommend treatment. Together with Quest Diagnostics they’ve developed a service that can even target all of the mutations a tumor might undergo.
Thus, AI is a valuable technology for doctors enhancing rapid and accurate decisions making. It is also valuable for patients: earlier diagnosing and reducing the cases of human error. Specialist have a profession with a lot of responsibility; one error can lead to severe situation which may eventually cause death.
Is it possible that technology will replace doctors?
There are concerns that AI technology will replace specialists in the healthcare industry. A study shows that when we take a look at the work of the professionals that many tasks turn out to be routine and process-based and do not need to involve human judgement, creativity or empathy. Furthermore, the study claims that the machines do not need to copy the way that professionals work (AI-fallacy), since they outperform professionals with results based on big data, algorithms and high processing power. Not only the profession of doctors, but also those of lawyers, school teachers, etc. are believed to be replaced.
I believe that technology will evolve and will improve the quality of care even more, especially with techniques such as the 3d printing of organs. Nevertheless, I believe that AI will not replace healthcare specialists (at least in the following few decades), because in my opinion human reasoning and thinking are still needed in for example decision making. Especially in novel situations, since AI technology can only learn from past data.
Ahier, B. (2017). Fact or Fallacy: Could Artificial Intelligence Replace Doctors?. [online] HealthTech. Available at: https://healthtechmagazine.net/article/2017/05/fact-or-fallacy-could-artificial-intelligence-replace-doctors [Accessed 8 Oct. 2017].
Celi, Leo (2016). Machine learning that matters in healthcare: breaking down the silos. [Web] Accessed October 6, 2017 https://mediasite.chla.usc.edu/Mediasite/Play/032abc7ef7164937bf5e611143b1be911d
Karam, A. (2017). Artificial Intelligence in Health Care. [online] AziKar24. Available at: http://azikar24.com/artificial-intelligence-in-health-care/ [Accessed 8 Oct. 2017].
Susskind, R. (2016). Technology Will Replace Many Doctors, Lawyers, and Other Professionals. [online] Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2016/10/robots-will-replace-doctors-lawyers-and-other-professionals [Accessed 8 Oct. 2017].
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Hi Suzanne. Thanks for the very interesting blog post.
I agree concerning your assessment that doctors will not be replaced by AI. AI can definitly help in establishing a diagnostic and proposing further Treatment. Thus, it is a useful assistance for doctors and healthcare providers with the potential to reduce misjudgements and improve survival rate. However, since healthcare is a very sensitive topic and people want to have a human being judging and making the treatment, AI will probably not comletely replace doctors. Similar to other professions, a doctor’s job along with skill requirements will change due to AI.
Hi Suzanne,
Thanks for your very interesting contribution to the blog! I think you make a fair point here, so I agree with your opinion and that of Isabel. There are several studies showing that AI technologies can outperform medical experts. For example, Google researches were able to detect cancer trough deep learning mechanisms at the Radboud Medical Center, outperforming pathologists with a 16% higher average accuracy. However – and in my opinion the most important outcome – the study also showed that pathologists that worked together with AI technology, made less mistakes in diagnosing cancer than each individually. That’s why I think have to fully bet on the synergy between human and machine. Doctors will have to search for a new roll in the triangular relationship between patient, doctor and computer. We have to start transforming the healthcare, simply because we owe it to the patients. You should read my blog post as well: https://digitalstrategy.rsm.nl//2017/10/09/dont-worry-about-robots-new-jobs-are-on-its-way/
I think you’ll find it very interesting!
Cheers,
Stephan
PS: Did you notice how I’m trying to make use of network effects here? 😉