This paper brings a great insight on the effect of AI in medical care. Defensive AI use can trap clinicians in a prisoner's dilemma, where choices that reduce blame end up hurting care. Says AI tools are already better than many doctors at some narrow jobs, like spotting cancer on a CT scan, but they still make mistakes. As these tools keep getting better and hit a level where they are right most of the time, people in the system will feel pressure to follow whatever the AI says. A doctor who disagrees with the AI might worry about blame later if the AI was right, so even when the doctor has a good reason, choosing a different path will feel risky. Over time that pressure can push everyone to default to the AI algorithm, not because it is perfect, but because going against it looks unsafe for careers and lawsuits. Big gaps remain because shared coordination tools are rare, liability is fuzzy when AI and a clinician disagree, and without policy the rational move is to keep escalating AI use. The fix is system level coordination that pays for patient outcomes, protects good faith judgment when AI disagrees, and demands transparent reasoning from the tools.

Nov 8, 2025 · 12:18 AM UTC

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Replying to @rohanpaul_ai
A perfect case study for a wider issue.This isn't unique to medicine. As AI enters law, finance, and other high-stakes fields, we'll see the same "defensive adoption" trap. The paper's call for system-level coordination is the critical challenge of the next decade.
Replying to @rohanpaul_ai
Funny that how after Covid, even seeing "The Lancet" makes me immediately think "heh, whatever, probably a pack of lies"
Replying to @rohanpaul_ai
True strength in medicine lies not in relying on algorithms, but in understanding the complexities of human care.
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Replying to @rohanpaul_ai
Rohan, that's a brilliant observation about AI's impact! I never thought about the prisoner's dilemma angle, but it makes total sense.
Replying to @rohanpaul_ai
the same pressure mechanism exists with humans. the doctor with the highest ranking dictates the guidelines. ranking reputation has more impact than intelligence.
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Replying to @rohanpaul_ai
If they disagree and AI turns out wrong - there's presumably a deep pocket to go after (hint, not the doctor) If they disagree and AI turns out right- doctor used professional judgement and just needs supporting logic documented Proceed with caution, AI providers