Doctors & Robots Unite!

AI is rapidly transforming the healthcare industry, offering new solutions for diagnosing diseases, predicting patient outcomes, and assisting in complex surgeries. For example:

Diagnostics: AI systems like Google's DeepMind have analyzed medical data to detect diseases such as breast cancer with remarkable accuracy.

Drug Development: AI has expedited the creation of new treatments by simulating chemical interactions, saving years of research time.

Surgical Assistance: Robots like the Da Vinci system are used in operating rooms to perform precise, minimally invasive surgeries.

Despite these advancements, concerns linger. In the U.S., where healthcare costs are already a pressing issue, there’s debate about whether AI will help reduce costs or drive them higher with expensive new tools. Ethical concerns also arise: What happens if AI makes a mistake? How do we ensure patient data privacy? Should AI ever have the final say in life-or-death decisions?

One recent example is the rise of AI in mental health apps, which provide therapy-like sessions without a human therapist. Some see this as a way to improve access to care, while others argue it lacks the empathy required for sensitive situations. Similarly, hospitals are exploring AI-driven chatbots for patient triage, but the risk of misdiagnosis remains a challenge.

Your Task:
Imagine you are a patient visiting a hospital or clinic in the near future. Select ONE of the following scenarios and describe your experience in the form of a journal entry. Include details about how humans and AI work together, what tasks AI performs, and how you feel about the interaction.

Scenarios:

1. Routine Check-Up
2. Emergency Room Visit
3. Cancer Treatment Planning
4. Mental Health Support
5. Chronic Disease Monitoring
6. Surgery Assistance
7. Vaccination Clinic
8. Outbreak Response
9. Telehealth Visit
10. Physical Therapy

Instructions:
Write your journal entry as if you experienced one of the scenarios. For example:
"Dear Journal, today I had my yearly check-up. It was amazing! The AI device scanned my vitals and provided a detailed report in minutes. My doctor explained the results, and together we made a health plan. At first, I was nervous about trusting a machine, but it was so efficient."

Optional Discussion Questions:

• What roles should AI and humans play in your chosen scenario?

• How might patients feel about trusting AI with their health?

• What challenges might arise in ensuring AI works effectively and ethically?