Let's talk about healthcare in 2030 | Dr Marcus Ranney | TEDxSurat

Summary

This inspiring speech envisions a future where technology revolutionizes healthcare, with AI and robotics playing pivotal roles in diagnosis and surgery. The speaker explores the potential of digital health assistants and personalized medicine, yet poses thoughtful questions about the future of the doctor-patient relationship and the essence of trust in an increasingly automated medical landscape.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The speaker's early interest in medicine was sparked by a childhood curiosity about the human body and a personal experience of self-diagnosis.
• 🔍 The essence of medicine is described as a process of data assimilation and pattern recognition, which can theoretically be replicated by a machine.
• 🚀 We are on the brink of a medical revolution driven by technology, with the potential to transform healthcare as we know it.
• 🤖 The future of surgery is envisioned with robotic surgeons performing precise operations with the aid of advanced imaging and AI.
• 🏥 The role of human surgeons may evolve, with a potential shift towards supervision and emergency response while AI takes on more routine tasks.
• 📈 By 2030, technology is expected to become more integrated, intelligent, and personalized in healthcare, affecting how we live our daily lives.
• 🧬 Digital health assistants could analyze our biological outputs, making personalized recommendations for our health and lifestyle.
• 🛠️ IBM Watson is an example of an AI system already making strides in healthcare, particularly in genomics and cancer diagnosis.
• 💻 There is a growing presence of AI chatbots and mobile applications in healthcare, aiming to enhance patient experiences and efficiency.
• 🔑 Trust is a critical component of the doctor-patient relationship, and the integration of technology into healthcare raises questions about where this trust will reside.
• 🌱 The speaker is optimistic about the potential of technology to augment healthcare experiences, emphasizing the importance of designing technology with human emotions in mind.

Q & A

What sparked the speaker's interest in the medical field during their childhood?

The speaker's interest in medicine was sparked by spending hours in the local library reading books on science and biology, and a personal experience of self-diagnosing a migraine using a textbook on neurology.

What does the speaker suggest is the essence of medicine?

The speaker suggests that the essence of medicine is the process of asking a series of questions and narrowing down possibilities until an answer is reached, similar to data assimilation and pattern recognition.

How does the speaker envision the role of technology in the medical field by the year 2030?

The speaker envisions technology playing a central role in healthcare by 2030, with smarter and more personalized devices, digital health assistants, and AI systems conducting medical consultations.

What is the role of the robotic surgeon in the future operating theater as described by the speaker?

In the future operating theater, the robotic surgeon performs surgeries with precision, taking detailed images of internal organs and making incisions, while a human surgeon oversees the process remotely, ready to intervene in case of emergencies.

What is the significance of the 'Health cloud' in the speaker's vision of future healthcare?

The 'Health cloud' is significant as it collects and analyzes constant streams of data from devices implanted under the skin, which is then used to manage and personalize health recommendations and treatments.

How does the speaker describe the impact of AI on medical consultations today?

The speaker describes AI's impact on medical consultations as already being significant, with smart algorithms making medical decisions and AI chatbots triaging patient severity and making basic recommendations to save time.

What is IBM Watson, and how is it being used in healthcare according to the script?

IBM Watson is a cognitive system that represents a new partnership between humans and computers. It is being used in genomics and assists in cancer diagnosis, with studies showing its ability to correctly diagnose breast cancer in a significant percentage of patients.

What is the potential future role of AI in medical consultations by 2030, as per the speaker?

By 2030, the speaker predicts that 90% of medical consultations will be with an artificially intelligent system that asks questions and recommends treatments, potentially replacing human doctors in some cases.

How does the speaker address the issue of trust in the doctor-patient relationship in the context of AI and technology?

The speaker raises the question of where trust will reside when the doctor is no longer the primary source of consultation, suggesting that trust may shift to the AI system or its manufacturer, and ponders whether we are ready to trust in something we cannot form a relationship with.

What is the speaker's hope for the future of healthcare technology?

The speaker hopes that the new triad of doctor-computer-patient relationships will augment rather than replace human experiences, and that technology will be designed based on human emotions, capturing the essence of being human.

What is the speaker's view on the integration of technology, medicine, and biology?

The speaker is optimistic about the integration of technology, medicine, and biology, believing that it will revolutionize personal and professional lives and have an unprecedented impact on health.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 The Wonders of Medicine and the Human Body

This paragraph narrates the speaker's childhood fascination with the human body, sparked by a small English Seaside town and the local library's science and biology books. The speaker's journey of self-diagnosis with a migraine using a textbook on neurology is recounted, highlighting the process of asking questions and narrowing down answers, which is likened to the practice of medicine. The paragraph transitions into a discussion on the potential of machines to perform similar diagnostic tasks, setting the stage for a future medical revolution driven by technology.

05:00

🤖 Envisioning the Future of Medical Technology

The speaker takes the audience on a journey to the year 2030, painting a vivid picture of a futuristic operating theater where a robotic surgeon performs a precise surgery with minimal incisions, guided by a pre-set path and imaging data. The scene also includes a nurse assistant and a human surgeon overseeing the operation remotely. The paragraph delves into the broader implications of technology in healthcare, discussing personalized health assistants, digital health clouds, and the integration of technology into daily life for health management. It raises questions about the future of the doctor-patient relationship in an increasingly digital world.

10:02

🔮 The Evolution of Healthcare and the Doctor-Computer-Patient Relationship

In this final paragraph, the speaker contemplates the impact of technology on the sacred doctor-patient relationship, pondering the shift from human trust to machine trust. The speaker acknowledges the current reality where AI systems like IBM Watson are already making medical decisions and the potential for AI to handle 90% of medical consultations by 2030. The paragraph also touches on the role of trust in healing and the challenges of forming a relationship with a machine. The speaker concludes with an optimistic view of technology augmenting human experiences in healthcare and a call to design technologies with human emotions and trust in mind.

Keywords

💡Destiny

Destiny refers to the predetermined course of events or the ultimate purpose in one's life. In the context of the video, it is discussed whether individuals are naturally inclined or driven by certain life events towards becoming a doctor. The script uses the personal narrative of the speaker to explore the idea of destiny in relation to a career in medicine, suggesting that a combination of innate interest and specific experiences can shape one's professional path.

💡Human Body

The human body is the physical structure of a human being, which the script describes as an 'amazing machine.' The fascination with understanding the intricacies of the human body is portrayed as a driving force for the speaker's interest in medicine. The script uses the metaphor of the human body as a complex machine to emphasize the depth and complexity of medical knowledge and the desire to comprehend it.

💡Self-Diagnosis

Self-diagnosis is the process where an individual identifies their own medical condition, often based on symptoms and knowledge of health conditions. In the script, the speaker recounts a personal experience of self-diagnosing a migraine using a textbook, illustrating the power of medical knowledge and the potential for individuals to understand their own health issues.

💡Medicine

Medicine is the science and practice of establishing the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. The video script discusses medicine as an exercise of data assimilation and pattern recognition, emphasizing the role of questioning and narrowing down possibilities to reach a diagnosis. It also raises the question of whether machines could perform similar tasks, hinting at the future of medical technology.

💡Medical Revolution

A medical revolution refers to a significant shift or advancement in the field of healthcare, often driven by new technologies or methodologies. The script speaks of a future revolution in medicine powered by technology, suggesting that the way healthcare is delivered and experienced will be fundamentally transformed by advancements such as robotic surgery and artificial intelligence.

💡Robotic Surgeon

A robotic surgeon is a machine designed to perform surgical procedures with high precision. The video script describes a futuristic operating theater where a robotic surgeon, equipped with multiple limbs and advanced imaging capabilities, performs surgery with a level of precision and control that may exceed human capabilities, indicating a potential shift in the role of human surgeons.

💡Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. The script discusses AI's role in healthcare, suggesting that AI systems could conduct medical consultations, analyze patient data, and recommend treatments, which could change the dynamics of patient care and the doctor-patient relationship.

💡Personalized Health

Personalized health refers to healthcare services tailored to an individual's unique needs, genetic makeup, and lifestyle. The video script envisions a future where digital devices and AI analyze personal health data to provide customized health recommendations, including exercise, nutrition, and treatment plans, highlighting the potential for technology to create more individualized healthcare experiences.

💡Health Consultations

Health consultations are interactions between healthcare professionals and patients to discuss health issues and treatment options. The script predicts that by 2030, the majority of medical consultations will be conducted with AI systems rather than human doctors, indicating a significant change in how patients receive medical advice and care.

💡Doctor-Patient Relationship

The doctor-patient relationship is the professional relationship between a healthcare provider and a patient, often characterized by trust, empathy, and confidentiality. The video script questions how this relationship will evolve with the integration of technology into healthcare, particularly AI, and whether trust can be established with machines in the same way it is with human doctors.

💡Trust

Trust is the reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, or surety of a person or thing. In the context of the video, trust is highlighted as a fundamental aspect of the doctor-patient relationship and is questioned in the context of AI and technology in healthcare. The script suggests that trust may need to be redefined as healthcare becomes more digital and automated.

Highlights

The speaker's childhood fascination with science and biology, leading to a self-diagnosis of a migraine at a young age.

The concept that medicine is an exercise in data assimilation and pattern recognition, suggesting the potential for machine involvement.

The idea that the future of medicine could be driven by technology, leading to a medical revolution.

A vision of 2030 where robotic surgeons perform operations with precision, guided by advanced imaging and AI.

The role of AI in healthcare, with IBM Watson as an example, assisting in genomics and cancer diagnosis.

A study showing IBM Watson's success in diagnosing breast cancer, highlighting the potential of AI in medical decision-making.

The impact of AI on patient consultations, with the potential for AI chatbots to triage patients and make basic recommendations.

The future of personalized health, with devices and digital signatures shaping our lifestyles and health management.

The potential for AI to transform the doctor-patient relationship, raising questions about trust in technology.

The importance of trust in the doctor-patient relationship and the challenge of transferring that trust to AI.

The speaker's optimism about the future of healthcare, emphasizing the integration of technology, medicine, and biology.

The potential for a new triad in healthcare: doctor, computer, patient, with the hope that technology will augment rather than replace human experiences.

A call to design technologies with trust and human emotions in mind, to capture the essence of being human.

The speaker's closing thought on cherishing the human aspect of doctor-patient interactions as technology advances.

The applause and music signifying the end of the talk, reflecting the audience's reception of the presented ideas.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Applause]

are people born destined to become a

doctor or does something happen in their

lives that drives them towards this

profession my parents say that it's

something that I had always wanted to be

and I have memories growing up in a

small English Seaside town where I spend

hours in the local library

with books on science and biology all in

the hope of trying to understand this

amazing machine that we have this human

body in better detail and on one

particular occurrence I remember after

series of really bad headaches I found a

textbook on the brain and neurology and

in it was a diagram which had questions

symptoms connected to answers and as I

spent the few moments following the

lines down I was able to diagnose myself

with a migraine how proud PR I felt when

my mom took me to see my family doctor

and I told him that I had arrived at

that

diagnosis but isn't this essentially

what medicine is having this learned

source of knowledge ask us a series of

questions narrowing down further and

further until an answer is reached the

doctor is just a person who in this case

has spent years studying all they can

about the human body and therefore in

that position to ask these questions

questions so if medicine is essentially

an exercise of data assimilation and

recognition based on patterns doesn't it

make logical sense that the very same

can be done by a

machine this is where we're at today on

this cusp of a medical Revolution which

is being driven through

technology folks I'd like to take you

all on a journey now a journey into the

future in our minds to visit the year 30

and see what the inside of an operating

theater may look like a patient lies on

the uh operating table she's asleep

under general anesthesia and this

incredibly strange looking metallic

structure is leaning over her it's a

robotic surgeon it's got multiple limbs

it's got this circular bulbous appendage

almost like a head at its top and as

that blue light wafts itself over the

patient's body it takes a phenomenally

detailed series of images for her

internal

organs now a surgical arm comes just

above the abdomen and it's stops and it

proceeds to make two small near perfect

incisions and as it does so the camera

probe now enters in and it follows this

preset path which was set days before by

the Imaging team it stops when it

identifies the organ and the surgical

tool comes in and over the next 20

minutes as this entire operation is

taking place to us sit sitting on the

outside it's like watching this really

seasoned conductor orchestrate a mus

beautiful

musical whilst the machine begins to

close up a nurse assistant sits and she

puts bandages and cleans the wounds and

in the corner is a lonely human surgeon

sitting remotely at his desk just there

in case of an emergency he puts his head

up to check everything's okay and then

back down into his crossword puzzle and

coffee

you see this is what the future of

surgery will look like and in a book in

which I'm writing about the future of

Health looking at Technologies in

2030 technology being the central tenant

is set to become more

encompassing much much more smarter and

a whole load more

personalized you see the digital

signatures of every machine and device

that we touch we use will be

increasingly used to navigate The Way We

lead Our Lives

just think about the way Apple Siri has

already transformed the way most of you

use your Mobile phones to search for

things the way Amazon's Alexa is slowly

beginning to change the way we interact

and engage with our homes and what would

a health conage of the future look like

a digital personalized health

assistant when we wake up all of the

biological outputs of our bodies are

analyzed and assessed to give an

indication of our internal biochemistry

devices which are planted under our

skins are sending this constant stream

of data into this personalized Health

cloud and as that information is

analyzed packets are sent to the various

devices that we have in our lives our

schedulers are instructed on exactly the

right amount of exercise we should be

doing our CPUs culinary planning units

are told how much food and nutrition we

should be consuming

when we're sick our doctors are told or

our spouses are informed of what our

health status is the autonomous taxi

service which we may use for going to

work will be told to stop two blocks

before we get there all in the hope of

incentivizing us to get out walk and

earn extra Health points and the purpose

of these points they will calculate our

insurance premiums they may even be

Gatekeepers for access to certain

services and facilities and even if the

future is not as somewhat dark or

intrusive as I've just described what I

am certain of is that by the year 2030

90% of all of your medical consultations

will happen with a

computer I don't mean that you and your

doctor will be separated by distance but

connected over the internet I mean that

you'll actually have that consultation

with an artificially intelligent system

which will ask you a series of questions

and then and recommend

treatment we may think that this future

is somewhat a decade or so away but in

reality it's actually much closer than

we realize for even today there are

medical decisions which are being made

by smart algorithms and not by medical

doctors the best known is IBM Watson

this is a $4 billion machine the tagline

beautifully reads A cognitive system

representing a new partnership between

humans and

computers IBM Watson dabbles in genomics

it assists Us in cancer diagnosis and a

very interesting study which was

conducted last year between the SLO

ketering Cancer Center in the USA and

our very own manipal hospital here in

Bangalore in India actually showed the

machine was correctly able to diagnose

breast cancer in 75% of

patients in the United Kingdom there is

a very exciting new startup working

through the NHS which is augmenting

patients experiences of consultations

with their doctors what it does is it

layers an artificially intelligent

chatbot asking the question uh the

patient a series of questions to triage

their severity and then is in a position

to make basic recommendations all in the

hope of saving the time of the more

expensive human substitute

here in India too with your very own

mobile phones there are a plethora of

medical uh mobile applications which are

available to help you all with your

well-being needs and help you manage

your

diseases so in this entire digital

revolution in healthcare that I've just

described we understand that technology

is augmenting Health but what is it

doing to care you see the doctor patient

relationship ship is one of the oldest

forms of professional report which exist

it's often reverred to as being sacred

but what does this relationship mean

what role does it play in healing and

Recovery just take a moment and think

about the time that you went to see your

doctor you're in pain your suffering

your ill you're in this incredibly

vulnerable position and all you're

asking is that this other human in front

of you provides relief

now I know this is a somewhat

romanticized and privileged view of

medicine but if you think about it I'm

sure we have all experienced it at some

point in our lives so what happens to

this equation when the doctor is no

longer part of

that trust is the foundation of every

successful relationship and trust is

either built over a period of time by

knowing your doctor or trust in the

profession itself

but where will this trust now reside

once the doctor is no longer there will

it exist in the

machine will it exist in its

manufacturer and are we ready are we

ready to trust in something in which we

cannot form a relationship

with friends I'm an eternal optimist I

am incredibly incredibly excited about

what the future holds for us and whilst

we have so many Global challenges to

overcome as a society technology is set

to revolutionize our personal and

professional lives and I may be biased

but I think that the impact that this

will have on our health will be unlike

anything we've ever seen before as the

worlds of Technology of Medicine of

biology all become increasingly

integrated into this machine of Arts

this human

body I hope that the new trity which

will exist in our lives the doctor

computer patient relationship will

actually augment our experiences rather

than replacing them and I hope that we

take a moment to design for trust and we

can capture what the essence is of being

a

human where we continue to build

Technologies which we create based on

our

intelligence but which we design based

on our

emotions and so I leave you with a

thought that the next time you see your

doctor and you hear trust me I'm a

doctor I recommend you smile and you

cherish that moment for who knows how

many we have left thank you

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]