[Perspectives] An artificial dichotomy

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Source: The Lancet

Original: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00208-4/fullt...

Published: 2026-02-07

The value of doctors is debated in some countries. In the United Kingdom, there has been resistance to the replacement of physician roles by physician assistants. Resident doctors in the UK have gone on strike over pay and training places. The emergence of artificial intelligence has raised questions about the uniqueness of doctors' skills and their contribution to healthcare. Charlotte Blease in her book Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us—And How AI Could Save Lives questions whether we need doctors at all. The book examines whether physician-led health care systems deliver high-quality care. If not, it analyzes whether artificial intelligence could be better.