Empathetic Communication: How ChatGPT is Transforming Doctor-Patient Relationships and Its Potential for Legal Blogging

Really interesting article by Gina Kolata in The New York Times this morning about some physicians finding that ChatGPT improves their ability to communicate empathetically with patients.

I could relate as lawyers have a hard time blogging in an engaging way, in which case they don’t connect with people.

Doctors are using chatbots to find words to break bad news and express concerns about a patient’s suffering. Previous studies found that many doctors were not empathetic.

“In one survey, 85 percent of patients reported that a doctor’s compassion was more important than waiting time or cost. In another survey, nearly three-quarters of respondents said they had gone to doctors who were not compassionate. And a study of doctors’ conversations with the families of dying patients found that many were not empathetic.”

Kolata shares one case as an example.

“Dr. Gregory Moore, who until recently was a senior executive leading health and life sciences at Microsoft, wanted to help a friend who had advanced cancer. Her situation was dire, and she needed advice about her treatment and future. He decided to pose her questions to ChatGPT.

“I wish I would have had this when I was in training,” he said. “I have never seen or had a coach like this.”

He became an evangelist, telling his doctor friends what had occurred. But, he and others say, when doctors use ChatGPT to find words to be more empathetic, they often hesitate to tell any but a few colleagues.

“Perhaps that’s because we are holding on to what we see as an intensely human part of our profession,” Dr. Moore said.””

Got me to thinking that blogging lawyers may hold on to what they see as intensely human – to explain legal concepts in an empathic and engaging fashion.

Is it possible that AI could enable lawyers to better connect with people?