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Why should medical "beta testing" happen in a third-world country? Is there some reason the higher risk of an experimental procedure is more acceptable there t
by dailybagel 5y ago
Why should medical "beta testing" happen in a third-world country? Is there some reason the higher risk of an experimental procedure is more acceptable there than (say) Boston or Dallas?
- gbear605 5y agoUnfortunately doctors are a lot less prevalent in a lot of developing countries, especially in subsaharan Africa. If an AI can do a third of the things that a doctor can do, that means that many more people can be treated. In the US, it just means that the appointments can be cheaper. So the developing countries have a lot more to gain from things like AI. The US and other developed countries should be doing more to help the situation, including training and paying doctors to work in those countries, but AI can potentially save a lot of lives there in the meantime. Of course, AI can only save lives if it works reliably, which doesn’t seems to be the case yet, but that hopefully can be overcome.
- querulous 5y agoyou think doctors are scarce in subsaharan africa but mri machines and xrays and ultrasounds are plentiful?
- Google234 5y agoIt’s must easier and faster to buy a machine than train a doctor
- nradov 5y agoIt really isn't. Some countries can produce a trained physician for less than the cost of a new MRI machine. And beyond the capital expense those machines are expensive to operate due to technicians, maintenance, consumable supplies, power, etc.
- Fomite 5y agoThis is in contradiction to my experience working on medicine in Africa, where there are often very well trained people coping with a water system that doesn't always work.
- gbear605 5y agoI know that they aren’t, but that doesn’t mean that AI that doesn’t use those tools is impossible.
- newyankee 5y agoAI assisted virtual Doctor > No Doctor
- tomp 5y ago90% reliable doctor in Switzerland > 10% reliable AI > 0% reliable no doctor in Africa