Can computers become better doctors than humans?

[Ivan Seeking]

(CBS) If you roam the corridors of the Detroit Medical Center these days you might see something a little unusual: robots making rounds.

As CBS News Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Kaledin reports, the medical center has deployed 10 of these 5-foot,7-inch, 220-pound bundles of technological innovation aimed at improving medicine.

They don't operate alone, of course. Through the Internet, a doctor is always at the helm.

The beauty of it is really pretty simple. Doctors can be two places at once. They can be in the office or even at home looking at charts and records and be at the patients bedside at the same time. [continued with Video]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/31/eveningnews/main684453.shtml


The irony is that in many ways computers make much better doctors than do humans. It has been argued in the sci/tech media that the recall of facts and information required to make diagnoses and to prescribe treatments will be the computer's job, with humans providing higher level support and oversight... hopefully.

 

[Danger]

They don't operate alone, of course. Through the Internet, a doctor is always at the helm.

I can envision myself have an obscene amount of fun after hijacking the command frequency for those things...

Which way to the gynecology ward?

 

[Moonbear]

You know, somehow I just think I'd prefer having the doctor seeing the patients and the robot filling out charts and handling paperwork.

Suddenly the robot in our hospital seems so insignificant. We have one that runs around the hospital delivering supplies instead of needing to send staff out to pick up supplies. It's rather surprising the first time you run into it in the hospital basement because it looks pretty much like any other supply cart except it has a lens mounted in front (motion sensor or something so it doesn't run anyone over), so you think a supply cart is just moving on its own. It talks to the elevators too.

 

[Danger]

It talks to the elevators too.

That's pretty elitist! We have to push buttons on ours.

 

[Moonbear]

That's pretty elitist! We have to push buttons on ours.

Yeah, well us ordinary humans have to push buttons too, but the robot says, "Calling elevator" and the elevator arrives for it.

 

[Danger]

the robot says, "Calling elevator" and the elevator arrives for it.

So just tape it, then play it back when you want a lift.







(I know, I know...it just says that for human benefit while radioing for the elevator. But why let reality get in the way of a cheap joke?)

 

[Moonbear]

But why let reality get in the way of a cheap joke?)

Good thing you got that joke cheap. Wouldn't have wanted you to pay full price for it.

 

[brewnog]

I think the last time Danger paid full price for something was, hmm, no. Let's keep that our little secret...

 

[Danger]

I think the last time Danger paid full price for something was, hmm, no. Let's keep that our little secret...

Yes, remember who your friends are. I didn't have to warn you, you know.

 

[kaos]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/31/eveningnews/main684453.shtml


The irony is that in many ways computers make much better doctors than do humans. It has been argued in the sci/tech media that the recall of facts and information required to make diagnoses and to prescribe treatments will be the computer's job, with humans providing higher level support and oversight... hopefully.

it better not be running on windows...

 

[Danger]

it better not be running on windows...

Cripes! That would bring a whole new definition to the term 'crash cart'.

 

[Moonbear]

Cripes! That would bring a whole new definition to the term 'crash cart'.

 

[Danger]

Thanks, but I know perfectly well that at least 3 of you would have done the same thing. I just happened to get there first.