ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, is gaining popularity as an all-in-one tool for answering questions, including those related to medical advice. While it can answer some medical questions and even ace the US Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), there are five reasons why ChatGPT should not be trusted for medical advice.
Firstly, ChatGPT’s knowledge is limited and does not have direct access to search engines or the internet. As a result, it cannot provide current news or developments in the medical field. Secondly, it may produce incorrect information since some of the data used to train the AI model is unverified or potentially biased. Inaccurate information in the medical field has the potential to cost lives.
Thirdly, ChatGPT cannot physically examine a patient, which is a critical component of medical diagnosis. Fourthly, it can provide false information, as seen in a recent study by the University of Maryland School of Medicine on ChatGPT’s advice for breast cancer screening. Lastly, despite being an AI language model, it is not a replacement for a licensed healthcare practitioner.
While AI-powered tools like ChatGPT can be used to schedule doctor’s appointments, maintain patient health information and assist patients in receiving treatments, they cannot replace a doctor’s expertise and empathy. Human doctors will always be needed to make the final call on healthcare decisions. Therefore, it is essential to check ChatGPT’s responses for accuracy and consult with a licensed healthcare practitioner regarding any health concerns.
