1949 was a momentous year—astronomer Fred Hoyle coined the term Big Bang, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed, and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical South Pacific opened on Broadway.1 Much less recognized was the publication of an essay by Richard Asher, FRCP, titled the “Seven Sins of Medicine.”2 Although it’s over 75 years…
Ethics Forum: Regarding Chatbots in Rheumatology
Chatbots are not a new concept, but have recently gained popularity and traction. Launched in late 2022, ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) is a web-based platform designed to simulate interactive conversations and deliver real-time data. It has quickly become a tool that provides instantaneous information that can be more focused than a Google search.1 We,…
A Delicate Balance: How to Avoid Overmedicalization in Rheumatology
Rheumatologist Rachelle Buchbinder, AO, MBBS (Hons), MSc, PhD, discusses reducing overdiagnosis, overtreatment, low-value care and waste in medicine.
Ethics Forum: Thoughts on Managing Electronic Communication with Patients
Recent proposals in the U.S. to bill for electronic communication with our patients could be seen as a refreshing but contested attempt to battle burnout rates in the present era. A fee for electronic communications between patients and clinicians also acknowledges the value of the clinician’s time and expertise. But is this ethical? Discussion Burnout…