Artificial intelligence is harming the doctor-patient relationship
22.07.2025 17:23
From image analysis in radiology to the creation of differential diagnoses: Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important in modern medicine. While more and more studies point to the potential of AI to improve our healthcare, many people have doubts about AI's competence, especially regarding medical issues.
This skepticism, however, doesn't just apply to AI itself, but can also extend to doctors who use AI. This is the finding of a new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Effects also when using AI for administrative purposes
The study shows that doctors who report using AI in their work are perceived by others as less competent, trustworthy, and empathetic. Such reservations were evident even when the AI was not used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, but rather for administrative tasks. Furthermore, respondents were less willing to schedule an appointment with a doctor who allegedly used AI.
Concern that doctors will blindly trust AI
More than 1,200 study participants received advertisements for medical practices as part of the experiment and were asked to evaluate the depicted doctors on various criteria. The advertisements differed from one another in only one respect: a single statement was added indicating that the depicted doctor used AI for administrative, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes. A control group received the same advertisement, but without this statement. The results showed that participants rated the depicted doctors more negatively in every evaluation dimension—as less competent, trustworthy, and empathetic—when they were told the doctors used AI in their work. "One possible reason for this finding could be that people are concerned that doctors might blindly follow AI," suggest the study authors, Moritz Reis and Prof. Wilfried Kunde from the Chair of Psychology III at Julius-Maximilians-University (JMU) Würzburg. Florian Reis from the Institute for Medical Informatics at Charité Berlin also contributed to the study.
The patient-doctor relationship is important for the success of the treatment.
Medical research has shown that a trusting patient-doctor relationship is a key factor for successful treatment. Given the increasing prevalence of AI in medicine, even minor limitations in perceived trustworthiness can accumulate to significant negative effects. "When doctors inform their patients about the use of AI, they should aim to address potential concerns and highlight possible benefits. For example, using AI for administrative purposes could free up doctors' time for more personalized patient care. Despite increasing technological advancements, AI could even make our healthcare system more humane," the authors conclude.
Original publication
Reis M, Reis F, Kunde W. Public Perception of Physicians Who Use Artificial Intelligence. JAMA Network Open. 2025;8(7):e2521643. jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2836557