Medical Chatbots

In my previous post, I chatted with an artificial mind named ChatGPT. There are many chatbots on the Internet and more every day, it seems. With my friend in the hospital having a life-threatening illness, I wondered if there are medical chatbots. Would it surprise you to know that there are many medical chatbots online?

Talking with a medical chatbot is like talking with a human doctor. You can describe the patient's condition to it, as you would to a consulting doctor, and it will consult its database of thousands, perhaps millions, of clinical cases in order to generate a diagosis and treatment plan. 

The doctor had told my friend's daughter that her father's condition was not improving and it was time to "make a plan." Well, that surely sounds ominous, I thought. So I went to my chatbot, ChatGPT, to ask about this phrase, "make a plan." I knew what the doctor meant, but I wanted to hear it from another mind, even if artificial. So I had this short conversation with ChatGPT:

— Begin Chat —

Me:
    My friend is in the hospital and is in poor condition and his doctor does not expect him to get better. The doctor says the family should "make a plan." What does this mean when it is said by a doctor?

ChatGPT:
    When a doctor says that the family should "make a plan," it typically means that the patient's condition is very serious and there may be limited options for treatment or recovery. The doctor is likely suggesting that the family begin to consider end-of-life care or other options, such as hospice care, palliative care, or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments.

    Making a plan can also involve discussing the patient's wishes and preferences for end-of-life care and making decisions about how to manage their symptoms and provide comfort during their final days. The doctor may also provide guidance and support to the family during this difficult time.

    It's important to note that every situation is unique, and the doctor's recommendations may vary depending on the patient's individual circumstances and medical history. The family should have open and honest communication with the medical team to understand the patient's prognosis and explore all available options for care.

Me:
    What are the names of a few good medical chatbots that are free to use?

ChatGPT:
    There are several medical chatbots available that are free to use. Here are a few examples:

    Ada Health: Ada is a popular medical chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to provide personalized health assessments based on the user's symptoms. It is available as a free app for iOS and Android devices.

    Your.MD: Your.MD is another medical chatbot that offers personalized health advice based on the user's symptoms. It is available as a free app for iOS and Android devices.

    Buoy Health: Buoy Health is a chatbot that provides personalized health assessments and guidance based on the user's symptoms. It is available as a free app for iOS and Android devices.

    HealthTap: HealthTap is a platform that connects users with licensed doctors who can provide medical advice and answers to health-related questions. It is available as a free app for iOS and Android devices.

    It's important to note that while these chatbots can provide helpful information and guidance, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat medical conditions. If you have a serious medical concern or emergency, you should always seek medical attention from a qualified healthcare provider.

— End of Chat—

So there are options if the doctor is too busy to talk to you or you are not satisfied with his answers. The top twelve medical chatbots are listed here. Unfortunately, I do not have enough information about my friend's condition to inform the chatbot of his symptoms. If I did have enough information, I would probably ask several chatbots for a prognosis and treatment options—but then, I'm a "leave no stone unturned" kind of person. I think it's better to have too many eyeballs on the problem, even if they're artificial eyeballs, than to have too few. What does one have to lose by bringing more resources to a difficult situation?