Lynne Thoman

So you expected the technical side to be excellent, diagnosing complex diseases and offering evidence-based treatment plans, but you were surprised by the communication side.

So you expected the technical side to be excellent, diagnosing complex diseases and offering evidence-based treatment plans, but you were surprised by the communication side.

In one study, Chad GPT's answers to patient questions were rated as both more empathetic and of higher quality than those written by actual doctors. How is that possible? AI is not caring or empathetic.

In one study, Chad GPT's answers to patient questions were rated as both more empathetic and of higher quality than those written by actual doctors. How is that possible? AI is not caring or empathetic.

Students all learn in medical school how to break bad news to patients. What are the do's and the don'ts?

Students all learn in medical school how to break bad news to patients. What are the do's and the don'ts?

One of the do's that at least resonated with me, really made sense to me, was to think about using the, quote, I wish line as in, I wish I had better news. That somehow makes it seem more personal.

One of the do's that at least resonated with me, really made sense to me, was to think about using the, quote, I wish line as in, I wish I had better news. That somehow makes it seem more personal.

As you've so eloquently said, John, you initially recoiled in medical school at the idea that compassion and empathy could be choreographed like a toolbox or like a set of dance steps. But what happened when you were actually practicing medicine as an emergency room physician and you had to deliver really bad news?

As you've so eloquently said, John, you initially recoiled in medical school at the idea that compassion and empathy could be choreographed like a toolbox or like a set of dance steps. But what happened when you were actually practicing medicine as an emergency room physician and you had to deliver really bad news?

You've thought a lot about pre-written scripts. Where do you see them in society and what do they accomplish?

You've thought a lot about pre-written scripts. Where do you see them in society and what do they accomplish?

John, you believe in the power of scripts. Do you think we will be interacting increasingly with AI, AI seemingly empathetic or informative with scripts as opposed to interacting with other humans?

John, you believe in the power of scripts. Do you think we will be interacting increasingly with AI, AI seemingly empathetic or informative with scripts as opposed to interacting with other humans?

That is a scary new world. Does it matter that AI has no idea what we or it are even talking about if there are linguistic formulas for human empathy and compassion? Should we hesitate to use good linguistic formulas no matter who or what is the author?

That is a scary new world. Does it matter that AI has no idea what we or it are even talking about if there are linguistic formulas for human empathy and compassion? Should we hesitate to use good linguistic formulas no matter who or what is the author?

It does raise these more fundamental society challenges. Taking a step back on a more general level, should we worry about relationships between humans? Humans aren't always as empathetic as we could be.

It does raise these more fundamental society challenges. Taking a step back on a more general level, should we worry about relationships between humans? Humans aren't always as empathetic as we could be.

For example, there's the classic story of the husband who comes home from work and he says to his wife, I had such a hard day at work, to which his wife, rather than being empathetic about his tough day, responds with, well, you wouldn't believe the day I had. Do you think that we as humans will become lonelier as relationships with other humans aren't perfect?

For example, there's the classic story of the husband who comes home from work and he says to his wife, I had such a hard day at work, to which his wife, rather than being empathetic about his tough day, responds with, well, you wouldn't believe the day I had. Do you think that we as humans will become lonelier as relationships with other humans aren't perfect?