The Importance of Empathy in Medicine

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In the UK, you can go into a drug store and have your UTI diagnosed with AI. That again will decompress the need for an in-person appointment. And so we're going to see a lot more of those things like ear infections for kids. It's not serious but it's doctorless diagnosed and treated.

Cardiologist and author Eric Topol talks about his book Deep Medicine with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Topol argues that doctors spend too little face-to-face time with patients, and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning is a chance to emphasize the human side of medicine and to expand the power of human connection in healing. Topol surveys the current landscape of the application of technology to health care showing where its promise has been overstated and where it is having the most impact. The conversation includes a discussion of the placebo effect and the importance of the human touch in medicine.