AI and Health: Promises and Risks According to Dr. Malchuk

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Key Takeaways

1AI is increasingly being sought for health advice, but it can make mistakes, warns Dr. Mieses Malchuk.

2Trust in U.S. health agencies has dropped by 5 to 7%, pushing people towards technological solutions.

363% of respondents consider AI-generated health information to be reliable, despite its obvious limitations.

💡Why it matters — The growing use of AI in health could change the patient-doctor relationship and influence the quality of care.

The Rise of AI in Health Advice

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) for health advice is gaining increasing popularity. However, this technology is not infallible and can sometimes lead to misinformation. Dr. Alexa Mieses Malchuk, a physician, shares her thoughts on the integration of AI in the medical field.

The proliferation of accessible information has transformed the way individuals interact with healthcare professionals, also impacting their level of trust. According to a recent survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, public trust in federal institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health has decreased by 5 to 7% over the past year.

The Consequences of Growing Distrust

Whether the tech industry exploits this decline in trust or not, it undeniably makes medical alternatives more accessible. Individuals are turning to these often free, always available, and quick technologies for answers that were once provided by doctors. A recent survey indicates that 63% of respondents consider health information generated by AI to be reliable.

The Impact on Medical Practice

Companies like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic have developed large language models (LLMs) specifically for healthcare professionals. Dr. Mieses Malchuk uses AI to lighten her administrative tasks, such as sorting patient messages and preparing advice before a consultation.

Amazon and Google have recently introduced health software that facilitates appointment scheduling, clinical documentation, and medical coding.

Despite these advancements, Dr. Mieses Malchuk is aware of the inherent limitations of these technologies.

AI as a Complementary Tool

For individuals without medical training, Dr. Mieses Malchuk recommends using AI as a complementary tool rather than a definitive source of medical advice. While it may be tempting to receive an immediate answer from a chatbot, these tools are not capable of diagnosing medical conditions. Most users do not possess the medical skills necessary to distinguish accurate information from inaccuracies.

Chatbot users may overlook crucial details regarding their health condition, which can lead to incorrect diagnoses or treatments.

She emphasizes that "the answers provided by these tools are only as accurate as the questions asked."

The Importance of Collaboration with Physicians

Dr. Mieses Malchuk stresses the need for individuals without medical training to collaborate with their physician to evaluate the information found online. She has noticed that patients discuss their research conducted with these tools less frequently but seem more confident in their diagnoses.

"In the medical field, there is not always absolute certainty. On one hand, easy access to information is great, but there are also real downsides," she noted.

She fears that tools like ChatGPT may give users a false sense of security, convincing them that they do not need to consult a doctor or have a condition examined. "This could represent a missed opportunity."