From ‘Dr. Google’ to ‘Professor AI’: How to get medical information without being misled
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For years, the term "Dr. Google" has been used to describe the growing tendency of patients to search online for information about symptoms, diagnoses, medications and treatments before or after seeing their physician. Just as physicians and patients learned how to navigate that world, a much more sophisticated source of medical information arrived: artificial intelligence--or, perhaps, "Professor AI."
AI can answer medical questions in seconds, explain laboratory results, compare procedures, discuss symptoms and even suggest possible diagnoses. Unlike traditional internet searches, AI does not simply give you a list of websites. It can take information from many sources and presents a polished, organized and sometimes very convincing answer.
That makes AI incredibly useful--but potentially more misleading.
The greatest concern is not that AI is always wrong. Much of the information it provides may be correct. The problem is that when AI is wrong, incomplete, or missing important context, it can still sound extremely confident. A well-written answer is not necessarily a correct answer.
There is another important limitation: medicine is not an exact science. Two people can have the same disease, receive the same treatment and have very different results. Age, genetics, other medical conditions, medications, anatomy, lifestyle and many other factors can affect how an individual responds.
This is why medical care cannot always be reduced to an algorithm. Even when information provided by AI is technically correct, it may not be the right answer for a particular patient. Physicians do more than identify a diagnosis and select a treatment. They interpret information in the context of the individual sitting in front of them.
That does not mean patients should avoid AI. Quite the opposite. AI can be an excellent educational tool.
Use it to explain unfamiliar medical terminology, understand general differences between treatment options, organize information, or develop questions for your next appointment. AI can help you become better prepared for a discussion with your physician.
But treat its answers as information to discuss, not a diagnosis or treatment plan to follow independently.
The same principle applies to other online medical information. Social media popularity does not establish medical expertise. Patient testimonials describe individual experiences, not scientific evidence. Before-and-after photographs can be influenced by lighting, positioning, camera angles, and timing. Credentials should be independently verified, particularly when someone describes themselves as an "expert" or "board certified."
Perhaps the best way to use AI is to change the question. Instead of asking, "What should I do?" consider asking, "What questions should I discuss with my physician?"
"Professor AI" is powerful, knowledgeable and available 24 hours a day. But it has never examined you, does not know everything about you and can be confidently wrong.
Use it to become informed. Then bring what you learned, and your questions, to your physician.
Ehab Akkary, MD, FACS, FAACS, MBA, is a fellowship-trained, triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon practicing in Morgantown, West Virginia. His monthly column focuses on helping readers better understand health, surgery and wellness through practical, evidence-based information. For more educational resources, visit www.YourDreamBody.com. eakkary@yourdreambody.com.