ChatGPT: Wreak or Rekindle The Doctor-Patient Relationship

It's 7 pm and John, a 30-year-old software engineer, is feeling uneasy. He's experiencing blurred vision and severe headache. However, he knows that it's impossible to book an appointment with his family doctor at this hour.

That's when he remembers an app his friend told him about --- ChatGPT. He downloads the app and within minutes, he's connected to a licensed doctor through the app's chat feature. The doctor recommends some immediate medicinal remedies and schedules John's visit to the clinic.

ChatGPT is slowly but surely changing the dynamics of the doctor-patient relationship. The platform facilitates a virtual consultation with a medical professional through its app. With only a few clicks, patients are connected to an experienced doctor who provides medical consultation for a fee.

However, the virtual consultation platform has sparked heated debates among medical professionals with some arguing that the digital interface will significantly affect the medical industry's fundamental values.

Real-Life Applications

Companies in the telemedicine industry have been booming since the COVID-19 pandemic. Teladoc Health is a prime example of a company capitalizing on the pandemic's restriction on human interaction. Teladoc offers a similar service to ChatGPT, providing patients access to medical professionals through a digital interface.

Another company that has recently entered the telemedicine space is Amazon. The multinational e-commerce platform launched Amazon Care, which provides virtual medical consultation to employees in the Seattle area. Amazon aims to make health care service more accessible to working individuals.

Conclusion

The virtual consultation industry is growing rapidly, and so is the debate around its benefit to the medical industry. ChatGPT, Teladoc, and Amazon Care are only a few examples of companies disrupting the traditional mode of medical care. Nevertheless, it is essential to understand the industry's impact on the doctor-patient relationship and overall medical ethics.

Critical Comments:

1. While virtual consultations are convenient, medical professionals must tackle the ethical concerns regarding online prescriptions.
2. Medical professionals must also address the digital divide that may prevent low-income patients from accessing these virtual consultation platforms.
3. The virtual consultation space is a booming industry; however, patients must be aware of the limitations of online medical consultation and learn when a personal visit is necessary.