A disappointing medical experience

ASeveral months ago, the writer received the results of some routine blood tests. Some numbers were too high. Her doctor simply advised her to continue with diet and exercise. The writer wanted more detailed advice, but the doctor said she needed to make another appointment.

Turning to ChatGPT

BThe writer decided to enter her blood test results into ChatGPT. She did not expect much, but the experience surprised her. She is both a doctor and a patient, and she felt that ChatGPT communicated in a way that she wished modern doctors could.

Practical advice

CChatGPT did not only give general advice. It asked questions about the writer's daily life and suggested changes that were realistic for her. For example, it suggested taking a short walk after meals. When she asked whether a longer activity would be much better, ChatGPT explained that the extra benefit might be small.

No judgment

DThe writer also felt comfortable asking questions that she thought were silly. Once, she asked whether vitamin gummies after a walk would increase her blood sugar. ChatGPT looked at the product ingredients and answered her question. She also told ChatGPT that she did not want to follow some suggestions, such as drinking fiber supplements. The chatbot did not become annoyed. Instead, it offered other choices.

Reassurance matters

EAs a doctor, the writer understands that ChatGPT can make mistakes and should not always be trusted. However, she noticed another important advantage. She could ask the same question many times, and the chatbot never became impatient. She remembers a patient with a very treatable form of cancer. Every week, he asked a chatbot whether his cancer could be cured. He already knew the answer. What he really wanted was regular reassurance.

Why ChatGPT felt different

FThe writer had also used professional medical AI tools. However, some of them felt cold and impersonal. ChatGPT was different because it showed empathy, encouragement and patience. It seemed willing to listen. The writer followed some of ChatGPT's suggestions. Later, her blood test results improved. ChatGPT praised her progress and encouraged her to continue. She believes this regular support helped her keep her new habits.

A problem in modern healthcare

GDoctors often do not have enough time for every patient. They cannot always provide the same level of attention and availability as a chatbot. If patients cannot get enough time, care and support from the healthcare system, they may look for these things somewhere else. The writer does not believe AI will replace doctors. However, she thinks it will change what patients expect from them.

Using AI carefully

HMany patients already use AI for health questions. The writer believes doctors should not simply criticize this. Instead, they should help patients use AI safely. She would not recommend using ChatGPT or Claude to diagnose a disease. However, AI might help patients understand a new condition, remember routine health checks or turn general advice such as "diet and exercise" into practical steps.

A lesson for doctors

IUsing ChatGPT has also changed the way the writer talks to her own patients. When a patient asks the same question again and again, she now tries to understand the reason behind it. Sometimes the patient may not need more medical facts. They may simply need reassurance.