Public health physicians caution Nigerians against relying on artificial intelligence for medical needs
Public health physicians have expressed concern over the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) for medical diagnoses and drug prescriptions in Nigeria.
They warn that such practices could expose patients to severe health risks, emphasizing the importance of human judgment in medical care.
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At a two-day Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Health Promotion and Education Alumni Association, Ibadan College of Medicine, themed Artificial Intelligence and Innovations in Public Health, the president of the association, Dr. Bright Orji, urged moderation in the use of AI.
He noted that while AI offers valuable insights and efficiency, it cannot replace the personalized care that a human doctor provides.
“The reason we want to do this is so that everyone is well aware of what to do. You can observe that even social media is being misused and abused. So, it’s important that there is a lot of information, and of course, disinformation, in the age we live in today,” Orji said.
Physicians caution that AI lacks the ability to fully understand individual patient needs, including crucial factors like medical history, allergies, and psychological nuances, which can greatly influence treatment. Moreover, AI’s potential for algorithmic bias raises concerns about equitable healthcare delivery.
An epidemiologist and professor of public health at the University of Ilorin, Professor Tanimola Akande, stated that relying on AI for drug prescriptions is not advisable. He explained that doctors consider various factors during physical examinations and test results that AI cannot capture. “AI cannot take the place of physicians in the management of patients,” he emphasized, adding that patients should always seek care from well-manned health facilities.
Akande further warned that fully relying on AI for treatment could be risky. He called for widespread health education to inform the public about the limitations of AI in healthcare. “In modern medicine, AI is gaining increasing relevance, but it is important to seek care from doctors,” he said.
Echoing these concerns, the President of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association Worldwide, Professor Emmanuel Otolorin, highlighted that AI can sometimes generate false information, or “hallucinate.” He warned that patients and practitioners must be cautious not to depend on AI-generated solutions without verifying their accuracy.
“We must be cautious that people don’t start relying on AI instead of healthcare workers, as some AI tools can hallucinate. An AI tool might generate a medication that doesn’t exist and describe the side effects of that nonexistent drug,” Otolorin said.
He also noted that quacks have begun using AI, just as there have always been those pretending to be healthcare professionals. He cautioned against the misuse of the internet for medical advice, stating, “If you rely on Google for medical advice, you must accept the consequences, especially in a country where you may buy any drug without a prescription.”
The physicians collectively emphasized that AI should serve as a supplementary tool rather than a replacement for human expertise in healthcare. They stressed the need for the public to seek medical attention from qualified professionals to ensure safe and effective treatment.
