Introduction

Imagine going to the doctor’s office after suffering a string of symptoms, desperate to know what is wrong with you. Since you’ve already scarred yourself by looking it up on WebMD.com, you probably just want to hear a simple diagnosis, some comforting words from your regular physician, and get out of there with a prescription and a smile. However, when you actually show up to get treated, your doctor just hooks you up to the warm welcome of robotic hands that can spit out a quick diagnosis. Although this may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, this is beginning to happen all over the world. I argue that a contradiction is emerging in modern medicine regarding the use of technology. On the one hand, technology can replace much of what doctors used to do. On the other hand, patients crave human, not impersonal technological, interactions. In the past year alone, several advances in the healthcare industry have amplified the integration of technology, which threatens to undermine the doctor-patient dynamic and even the world of nursing. These developments are moving away from the human aspect of the doctor-patient relationship, and in turn they are threatening the very essence of treatment, both metaphorically, and quite literally. In response, there have been attempts to change the focus of preparation for future physicians, beginning at the entrance examination for medical school and leading up to residency training.