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)

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    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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    The contemporary world is profoundly shaped by technological progress. Among the advancements of our era is the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI). AI has permeated every facet of human knowledge, including medicine. One domain of AI development is the application of large language models (LLMs) in health-care settings. While these applications hold immense promise, they are not without challenges. Two notable phenomena, AI hallucination and AI drift, pose setbacks. AI hallucination refers to the generation of erroneous information by AI systems, while AI drift is the production of multiple responses to a single query. The emergence of these challenges underscores the crucial role of the philosophy of medicine. By reminding practitioners of the inherent uncertainty that underpins medical interventions, the philosophy of medicine fosters a more receptive stance toward these technological advancements. Furthermore, by acknowledging the inherent fallibility of these technologies, the philosophy of medicine reinforces the importance of gentle medicine and humility in clinical practice. Physicians must not shy away from embracing AI tools due to their imperfections. Acknowledgment of uncertainty fosters a more accepting attitude toward AI tools among physicians, and by constantly highlighting the imperfections, the philosophy of medicine cultivates a deeper sense of humility among practitioners. It is imperative that experts in the philosophy of medicine engage in thoughtful deliberation to ensure that these powerful technologies are harnessed responsibly and ethically, preventing the reins of medical decision-making from falling into the hands of those without the requisite expertise and ethical grounding.

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