ChatGPT, internet searches and 'dhuk dhuk': Rajnath on challenge of self-diagnosis for doctors

Noida, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the trend of patients turning to the internet, ChatGPT, and even the phrase "dhuk dhuk" to describe their symptoms during a recent inauguration event. He noted that people now often search for their symptoms online before consulting a doctor, a behavior driven by increased health awareness but also posing challenges.

Singh recounted instances where patients, instead of simply sharing their symptoms, would present the diagnosis they found online, sometimes leading to miscommunication with healthcare professionals. He also shared lighter stories, such as a rural patient saying their chest pain caused "dhuk dhuk," a colloquial term for discomfort, which a doctor had never encountered or understood during their medical training.

Another lighter anecdote involved a patient who, after researching on the internet, believed they had claustrophobia and confidently agreed to an MRI scan. Singh emphasized that while technology enhances diagnostic capabilities, it cannot replace human understanding, empathy, and the ability to build trust with patients. He stressed the importance of protecting patient privacy, avoiding bias in AI diagnostics, and ensuring that patients feel valued as individuals rather than just numbers in a system.