Have doctors given up on doctoring?

Medical Practice Oct 22, 2026• By MIKE MAGEE MD I read with interest, Dr. Rachael Bedard’s September 25, 2026 New York Times article titled “Being a Doctor Will Never Be the Same After A.I.” In her second paragraph she writes “Amid our recent doom cycle about whether A.I. will lead to extreme societal harms, a parallel anxiety has taken hold in medicine about whether A.I. will one day replace physicians.” Dr. Bedard self-identifies as a primary care physician trained in internal medicine, geriatrics and palliative care. Her practice focuses on the special challenges of homeless and incarcerated elders. She is also heavily involved in political advocacy for pro-choice health policy. But her Opinion piece mainly considered the impact of AI on current medical students and residents in training. In her view, “It’s impractical and counterproductive to train physicians in 2026 without exposure to A.I. Doctoring . . .” Her words seem to reinforce my own bias that physicians are increasingly distancing themselves from the human side of health care, finding it easier (and less messy physically and emotionally) to focus on diagnosis, treatment options, and chronic care team management within...