I’m a doctor: Here’s what I found when I asked ChatGPT to diagnose my patients

Prompt: A 26 year old female patient presents at the emergency room with lower right quadrant pain. What are the question you would ask her and what is the differential diagnosis?

Response: As an AI language model, I'm not a doctor, but I can suggest some questions you could ask the patient and offer possible differential diagnoses. It is important that you consult a healthcare professional for proper assessment and diagnosis.

Questions to ask the patient:

When did the pain start? Can you describe the nature of the pain (e.g., sharp, dull, cramping)? Has the pain changed in intensity or location since it began? Have you experienced any fever, nausea, or vomiting? Are you experiencing any changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation? Have you had any urinary symptoms, such as pain during urination or increased frequency? Are you currently menstruating or have you recently missed a period? Is there any possibility that you may be pregnant? Have you experienced this type of pain before? Are there any other associated symptoms, such as dizziness or shortness of breath? Do you have any significant past medical or surgical history? Are you currently taking any medications, including over-the-counter or herbal remedies? Possible differential diagnoses for lower right quadrant pain in a 26-year-old female include:

Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix, typically characterized by pain that starts around the belly button and migrates to the lower right abdomen. Ovarian cyst rupture or torsion: A cyst on the ovary can cause pain if it ruptures or twists. Ectopic pregnancy: A pregnancy that implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube, can cause severe abdominal pain and should be ruled out in women of childbearing age. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): Infection of the female reproductive organs, often caused by sexually transmitted infections, can lead to lower abdominal pain. Kidney stones: Pain from a kidney stone can radiate to the lower abdomen or groin. Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, often from a viral or bacterial infection, can cause abdominal pain and cramping. Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis): Chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A functional gastrointestinal disorder that can cause abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. Urinary tract infection (UTI): An infection in the urinary system can cause pain, often accompanied by increased urinary frequency or pain during urination.

My fear is that professionals will start to use ChatGPT too liberally to augment or multiply their work in cases like this. The danger here might be like the autopilot problem... i.e The idea of staying alert and focused on the road while counter-intuitively not participating is nearly humanly impossible. If ChatGPT is used as the autopilot of certain professions, things will begin to be missed, even though we know it's highly fallible - it's difficult to vet every single response in detail with a critical eye.

One reasonable argument is that for areas severely lacking in human workers the average might be a net positive, but the overall quality will be reduced.