• Question: Do you think technology, machines and robots will take over the need for doctors and real workers? If so, when?

    Asked by lkeogh to Enda, Jean, Kate, Kev, Tim on 18 Nov 2012.
    • Photo: Tim Downing

      Tim Downing answered on 18 Nov 2012:

      Hi Lkeogh,

      That’s a very relevant question. Changes in technology are the fundmental drivers of scientific innovation. The parasites I study are found in remote places, like in mountains in Nepal. Doctors regularly have clinics in these locations where they don’t have easy access to patient records or recording devices. However, with changes in mobile computer and phone technology, they can now record symptoms and access relevant records or medical literature more easily.

      Moving from the clinic to the science lab, again changes in technology alter how we do science. Since 2004, the speed with which mutations in DNA could be detected has dramatically increased by changing the biochemistry procedures used to detect molecular changes. This change is so profound that it will usher in an era of genomic medicine, where treatments can be developed that are targeted specifically for the patient.

      However, doctors and real researchers will always be needed – who can interpret what the machines or computers produce? The major changes driven by technology are the speed of analysis and volume of data. Having more information means better treatments can be prescribed, and speeding up this means more patients can be treated. So technological change requires doctors and researchers to learn new methods and approaches so that we can take advantage of new ideas. This is a fundamental role of a scientist – nothing should be routine, everything can be improved (maybe!).

      Tim

    • Photo: Jean Bourke

      Jean Bourke answered on 20 Nov 2012:

      To be honest I don’t think so. I’m sure that to a certain extent technology could replace humans but would that make people happy? Often there is a psychological impact to seeing a doctor, nurse or other health care professional. A machine could not listen to your worries and reassure you.

      When you see your doctor you want an explanation of what is happening to you and what it really means. That information needs to be presented in a way you can understand and with sensitivity, something I do not think technology will every truly master.

      There are many diseases that can be diagnosed by technological methods but there is still so much work to do. We need a much better understanding of how our bodies and various diseases work.

      That being said the ideal scenario is one that is already happening where all sorts of experts work together and use technology to help treat patient. Nowadays there is a push toward interdisciplinary (experts from different fields) teams of doctors working together and consulting one another so the patient gets the best possible treatment.

      Technology has been a massive help in combatting disease and I’m sure there is loads more it can do. It’s up to future scientist, such as yourselves, to research new technologies and methods 😉

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