The Disadvantages of Deep Medicine

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You argue that right now there's some barriers between the doctor and the patient being caused by technology. We're going to come to that later, but I want to contrast your definition of deep medicine with what you call shallow medicine. What do you mean by shallow medicine? What's wrong with our current medical practice? Right. Well, it's sad. And we haven't really fessed up to it, Russ, that we have so many errors. Over 12 million serious diagnostic errors a year. The average appointment is seven minutes for a return visit,. 12 minutes for a new visit, totally inadequate.

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.