When I launched my dermatology clinic 25 years ago, I relied on paper records, a prescription pad, and a Dictaphone. Nowadays, I utilize AI every day for transcription, charting, and even analyzing intricate lab results, improving my work’s efficiency. Nevertheless, alongside these technological advancements, I’ve noticed a decline in trust between patients and doctors. Thankfully, practicing independently enables me to preserve a direct connection with my patients, nurturing loyalty and satisfaction.
Many of my younger peers lack this independence, finding their work hurried and transactional. The incorporation of AI into medicine serves as both a resource and a challenge. AI can never substitute human expertise. While it can condense lab results and propose subsequent steps, it cannot replace the depth and subtlety that healthcare providers offer. Real-world examples illustrate this; an experienced internist diagnosing early ovarian cancer through nuanced signs that no algorithm would capture, or AI in dermatology detecting rashes but not sensing their texture or a patient’s anxiety.
Medicine demands continuous practice and judgment refined through patient interactions. AI makes decisions based on averages, yet patients seek tailored care. Physicians must apply their judgment, weaving data into decisions that algorithms cannot simplify.
It is essential to safeguard our role and autonomy. Physicians should not be relegated to following software prompts; they must uphold their accountability for decisions. While nurses, NPs, and PAs play critical roles, the physician’s unique position involves synthesizing data and history into individualized decisions.
This medical-technology landscape necessitates embracing AI as a controlled tool. It can reduce the time spent on administrative duties, facilitate meaningful patient interactions, and offer fresh perspectives on intricate cases, but the ultimate decision must rest with the physician.
Additionally, we need to scrutinize the ownership of AI algorithms and data. Who holds control over the AI influences the independence and authority of physicians. Conversely, pioneering new uses for AI can lead to groundbreaking results, such as oncologists discovering novel treatments or family physicians identifying risks in diabetic patients.
In my dermatology clinic, AI supports in highlighting trends but cannot supplant the understanding gained from treating thousands of individuals, acknowledging the distinct manifestations of conditions like menopause in patients with autoimmune disorders. Safeguarding physician discretion ensures care remains relational and empathetic.
The concern is not that AI will supplant doctors but rather that doctors will relinquish their roles to it. Appropriately leveraging AI can indeed bolster patient trust, a connection weakened when allowing AI to dominate decision-making. This trust, when meticulously maintained, motivates patients to prefer human expertise over technological alternatives.
In the end, the essence of a rewarding medical practice is the unmatched human connection and decision-making that transforms lives—a victory no machine can achieve. That’s why trust and autonomy are profoundly significant—for the future of both physicians and medicine.
Jessica Wu is a Harvard-trained dermatologist, bestselling author, and health tech entrepreneur. Follow her journey as she redefines healthcare by merging technology with traditional practices, empowering physicians to reclaim their roles, and restoring integrity to the medical profession.