Many people are understandably cautious about new technology. Yet it is worth remembering that human error in medicine often proves far more dangerous than innovation.
We often expect healthcare professionals to be **flawless and tireless**, almost as if they exist beyond the ordinary bounds of human capability. The reality, however, presents a stark contrast. Doctors are, in essence, human beings who are frequently **overstretched**, working protracted hours under immense pressure, often with limited resources. While enhancements in staffing levels and systemic improvements would undoubtedly yield benefits, the inherent **limitations of human ability** persist, even within well-resourced hospitals staffed by dedicated professionals. The human brain, notwithstanding years of rigorous training, is simply not engineered to manage the sheer speed and intricate complexity characteristic of contemporary healthcare demands.
Human Limits in Modern Healthcare
If patient care is the essence of medicine, the question becomes clear: who or what is best placed to provide it? Artificial intelligence may still cause suspicion, yet an increasing body of evidence suggests it could address many of the most serious failings, from diagnostic errors to unequal access.
Each of us is likely to face at least one diagnostic error in our lifetime. In England, studies indicate that about five per cent of primary care visits result in a missed or incorrect diagnosis, leaving millions at risk. In the United States, diagnostic errors are responsible for the death or permanent injury of almost 800,000 people every year. The risks increase further for the one in ten people globally who suffer from rare diseases.
When Medicine Falls Short
Although medicine prides itself on being scientific, doctors do not always follow what research recommends. Evidence based treatments are provided only around half the time to American adults. Disagreements are also common. A study of more than 12,000 radiology images found that second opinions disagreed with the original assessment in one third of cases, changing treatment in almost 20 per cent of them. As the day progresses the quality of care often slips further. Cancer screening rates fall while inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions rise.
These failings have explanations. The strain of distraction, multitasking and fatigue is unavoidable in human life. Burnout, depression and cognitive ageing reduce performance and increase mistakes. Considering such pressures, it is in fact remarkable that doctors perform as well as they do.
The Overwhelming Pace of Knowledge
Another challenge is the pace of medical knowledge. By the time a medical student graduates, much of what they learned has already become outdated. On average, it takes 17 years for research findings to be applied in clinical practice. A new biomedical article is published every 39 seconds. Even reading only abstracts would take 22 hours per day. More than 7,000 rare diseases are currently known, with 250 new ones added each year.
What Artificial Intelligence Can Do
Artificial intelligence does not suffer these limitations. It processes vast volumes of data at all hours without fatigue. While doctors can vary in accuracy, AI delivers consistent results. These tools can make mistakes too, but some of the latest models already show remarkable performance, often surpassing human doctors in complex reasoning.
AI’s unique strength lies in its ability to recognise patterns that humans overlook. It is particularly effective with rare conditions. In one 2023 study, researchers tested ChatGPT-4 on 50 clinical cases including 10 rare diseases. The system ranked correct diagnoses among its first suggestions in the majority of cases, and outperformed human doctors involved in the comparison.
For patients and families this can be life changing. One child named Alex saw 17 doctors across three years for unexplained pain. None found an answer. His mother turned to ChatGPT, which suggested tethered cord syndrome, a rare condition. Doctors confirmed the diagnosis and Alex now receives appropriate treatment.
Access and Equality of Care
Access to care remains another major challenge. The people who are most in need are often those most likely to be left behind. Missed appointments are common due to long travel times and packed schedules. Parents, part time workers and people in insecure jobs struggle to attend regular checkups. In the United States, patients sacrifice an average of two hours for a 20 minute consultation.
For people with disabilities the barriers are even greater. In the United Kingdom they are four times more likely to miss out on care due to transport, costs and long waiting lists. Disabled women are more than seven times more likely than men without disability to have unmet medical needs because of cost or medication barriers.
Despite these difficulties, we rarely question the system of travelling to a doctor’s office and waiting in line. Artificial intelligence could change this model entirely. Imagine having a reliable medical adviser in your pocket, available whenever you need it. Under the Labour government’s ten year plan, the health secretary Wes Streeting has already announced that patients will soon be able to use the NHS app to discuss health concerns with AI. This could offer millions of people faster and more useful clinical guidance.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Challenges remain. Digital inequality is real. Globally, 2.5 billion people are still offline. In the United Kingdom, 8.5 million lack basic digital skills and 3.7 million families fall below the minimum standard for digital living, with poor internet, outdated devices and limited support. Confidence is also a barrier, with more than one in five people in Britain feeling left behind by technology.
Weighing Risks Against Reality
Much of the current research on AI in healthcare concentrates on flaws and risks. This is important, as bias and errors must be prevented. However, focusing only on risks can ignore the shortcomings of the system we already depend upon. Any fair judgement of AI must be measured against the reality of existing healthcare, which is often slow, inaccessible or wrong.
In conclusion, AI is not here to replace doctors entirely but to support them and to improve the quality and reach of healthcare. If applied responsibly, it could help make medicine safer, more accurate and more accessible for everyone.