Patients increasingly turn to ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools for medical advice, reflecting broader challenges within the healthcare system related to time constraints and communication gaps. This trend, highlighted in recent discussions following a guest essay by Dr. Helen Ouyang, has elicited a range of responses from medical professionals and patients alike.
Dr. Vijay Rajput, a professor at Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, noted that many physicians have observed patients seeking not only medical facts but also the personalized attention and responsiveness that traditional healthcare settings sometimes fail to provide. Rajput acknowledged that while AI platforms can offer interpretation, reassurance, and guidance, their clinical accuracy remains limited. Citing recent studies, he pointed out that ChatGPT correctly addresses only about half of diagnostic challenges and often struggles with laboratory and imaging interpretations. He cautioned that the AI’s fluent answers might create a misleading impression of certainty in situations that require nuanced clinical judgment. Rajput argued that the appropriate role of AI is as a supportive tool—helping patients prepare questions or organize information—but not as a substitute for professional diagnosis or individualized care.
Joseph Nevotti, a forensic psychologist, shared a positive perspective based on his year-long experience using AI technology. He described how ChatGPT enables him to efficiently organize complex case findings and serves as a valuable "sounding board," mirroring the capabilities he would have if he had extensive time and access to extensive research resources. Nevotti emphasized that AI has become indispensable in his professional workflow.
However, some experts urged caution, particularly concerning privacy and the nature of interactions. Tanya Wahl, a retired oncologist, questioned the uncritical acceptance of ChatGPT’s consistently positive and supportive responses, which she described as a form of sycophancy that may lack authenticity. Wahl also raised concerns about data security, noting that uploading personal medical information to AI platforms could expose sensitive records without protections under laws such as HIPAA, potentially putting patient privacy at risk.
Patients with chronic conditions also find AI tools increasingly valuable. Chelsea Rudman, who lives with long Covid, explained that ChatGPT has been essential in providing information and insights amid a healthcare environment where many doctors have limited knowledge of the condition. She noted that while millions of Americans suffer from long Covid, few medical practitioners have engaged with the growing body of research, whereas AI platforms can quickly synthesize thousands of scientific articles.
Meanwhile, several healthcare professionals stressed the importance of empathetic communication in care delivery. Gerald Greenfield, a psychologist involved in medical education, highlighted a longstanding disconnect between the ethical ideal of compassionate care and the reality faced by many patients. Greenfield emphasized that time pressures and lack of awareness undermine physicians’ ability to practice empathetic listening—a gap that AI’s perceived "empathy" underscores rather than resolves.
Similarly, Maury Martin, a primary care doctor, cautioned against replacing human interaction with AI. He emphasized that the patient-doctor relationship, built over time through shared experiences, plays a crucial role in effective medical care—a connection that cannot be replicated by chatbots, no matter how supportive they appear.
The dialogue around AI’s role in medical advice reveals a complex balance: while these technologies offer increased access to information and responsiveness, they also highlight enduring challenges in healthcare communication, privacy, and clinical accuracy. Experts widely agree that AI should complement, not replace, the personalized judgment and relationship at the heart of medical practice.