The Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine is the official scientific publication of the Medical Ethics and History of Medicine of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Physicians and health practitioners always deal with ethical issues in the treatment and management of diseases. The advent of new biomedical technologies further complicated the moral and societal issues of medical research and practice. Religious and cultural differences more emphasize the need for nationalizing this knowledge. The Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine (J Med Ethics Hist Med) is an opportunity for healthcare professionals as well as theologians, philosophers, and sociologists to present and discuss their ideas from several aspects in relation to medical ethics and bioethics. In addition, this Journal traces its roots to several aspects of the History of Medicine which further emphasizes on Iranian and Islamic eras.

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Current Issue

Vol 18 (2025)

Original Article(s)

  • Why is the idea of AI completely replacing physicians a pseudo-problem? A philosophical analysis
    Alireza Monajemi ORCID
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    Abstract

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, but is unlikely to fully replace human doctors. This paper explores the limitations of AI in healthcare, focusing on three key areas: lack of embodiment, limited understanding of meaning in everyday language, and the inability to exercise judgment and clinical reasoning. Recognizing these limitations enables us to use AI to enhance our capabilities rather than allowing it to substitute humans. Following this philosophical examination of AI's limitations, I will argue that the question of whether AI will replace doctors is a misleading one. Instead, this framework advocates for synergistic human-AI collaboration in health-care settingsIt necessitates the development of hybrid entities: a physician-AI partnership and a patient-AI interface. The overarching objective is to effectively address the core mission of medicine, which is providing optimal treatment and compassionate care for all patients. This hybrid model must proactively mitigate the risks of AI integration, such as exacerbation of existing health-care challenges and potential dehumanization of patient care. Within this framework, key objectives include: reducing medical errors, fostering humane doctor-patient relationships, mitigating the trend of medicalization, and ultimately improving overall public health outcomes.

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