[Patient-centered medicine in the era of artificial intelligence: what are the possible implications and risks?]

Abstract

Patient-Centered Care (PCC) is currently recognized as the gold standard for the doctor-patient relationship, and numerous studies associate it with the improvement of various outcomes. However, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the healthcare field challenges doctor-patient interactions as conceived within the PCC. This article proposes a critical and open reflection on the impact of integrating AI into healthcare systems. It will discuss how the advent of AI can be integrated within a PCC paradigm and its role in decision-making processes, outlining its benefits but also potential critical issues from the perspective of patients, doctors, and the doctor-patient relationship. The available evidence indicates the need for a re-examination of the doctor-patient relationship paradigm that incorporates AI as a third party in the relationship. Furthermore, such incorporation will increasingly impact key dimensions of PCC: empathy, trust, and communication. Therefore, it is suggested to improve the educational training of doctors, who must be trained in the use of soft skills and prepared for a work environment assisted by AI.