Treatment by 'doctor' ChatGPT

ChatGPT should be viewed as an initial source of information only and is not a substitute for medical examination, diagnosis and treatment.

Doctor consulting patient. Photo: Doctor provided

When he returned to the hospital, his erectile dysfunction was at a serious level, requiring long-term treatment and much more expensive than the original. Dr. Ha Ngoc Manh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam - Belgium Andrology and Infertility Hospital, who directly treated him, said that in patients with erectile dysfunction, corneal complications are extremely rare. In fact, when prescribing for patients, doctors considered and calculated individualized dosages to suit their medical condition. Patients using the correct dosage of medication, under close supervision of a doctor, will ensure safety and effectiveness. However, instead of asking the specialist, this person stopped taking the medication on his own, putting himself in an even more difficult situation.

This story is not uncommon. A 28-year-old IT worker had a dull stomach ache and bloating after eating. Instead of going to the doctor, he asked ChatGP and was given many causes including "usually just stress, eating too fast".

Believing it was "due to stress", he took digestive enzymes. A few weeks later, the pain became more severe and he vomited blood. At the hospital, the doctor diagnosed a progressive gastric and duodenal ulcer, with bleeding complications. The doctor said that if the patient had come to the hospital early, treatment would have been much simpler, but due to delay, the ulcer had become deep.

Known as a large language model with a huge knowledge base, ChatGPT can provide answers almost instantly, covering all areas. However, many people are confusing the function of this tool with the role of a doctor.

"ChatGPT should only be seen as an initial source of information and cannot replace medical examination, diagnosis and treatment," said Dr. Manh.

Medical diagnosis requires the results of clinical examination, tests and the specific medical history of each person. All drugs have side effects, but the decision to use them or not must be weighed between benefits and risks, and must be assessed by a specialist. As in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, the doctor must assess the patient's cardiovascular risk before prescribing drugs in the PDE-5 inhibitor group because they can cause dangerous drops in blood pressure. Dosage, time, and frequency of use must be individualized and closely monitored.

Dr. Artie Shen, of the New York University Center for Data Science , points out that AI can make diagnoses, but users cannot understand the reasons behind them, due to the lack of practical theoretical foundation. Dr. Keith Horvath of the Association of American Medical Colleges also commented that AI cannot match the flexibility and adaptability of humans in complex situations. Doctors can adapt to changing conditions and rapidly evolving situations - a dexterity that is very difficult to program for computers. Research published in PLOS ONE shows that ChatGPT's accuracy in medical diagnosis is only 49% accurate.

Chat GPT should only be considered as a reference tool. Photo: Screenshot

In addition, one of the core elements of medicine that AI cannot replace is empathy. Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Infectious Diseases Association, gives the example of terminal cancer patients who need palliative care and psychological support. In such situations, the understanding and compassion of the physician plays an extremely important role, helping the patient have a peaceful final days of life. This is something that a mindless machine can never do.

Dr. Ngo Quang Hai, former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Acupuncture High-Technology Center, Central Acupuncture Hospital, affirmed that AI cannot perform physical examinations such as taking the pulse, examining the throat or listening to the heart and lungs. Therefore, AI's assessment is only general. According to traditional medicine, "treating the disease" means treating the disease before it develops; early detection makes treatment easier. If delayed, the disease will turn from mild to severe and treatment will be much more difficult, whether using Eastern or Western medicine.

Experts advise people to select appropriate information wisely, not to depend on or entrust their lives to mindless machines. When abnormal symptoms last for a long time (over 1-2 weeks), people should see a specialist soon.

PV - VNE

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/chua-benh-theo-bac-si-chatgpt-520480.html