The Heart of Medicine: Can Technology Replace Touch?

Technology is synonymous with medicine. The use of knives and saws made from flint in surgery and amputation is probably one of the earliest examples of human technology in healthcare. The stethoscope was invented in 1816, heralding a change from physicians having to press their ear to the patient’s chest. But as technology continues to make leaps and bounds forward, how will healthcare change with the introduction of artificial medicine and big data, and will technology ever replace the human touch? On this episode of The Heart of Medicine, consultant cardiologist Dr Kannan Pasamanickam discusses this topic with two other special guests, consultant gastroenterologist Dr Madhav Kudva and consultant haematologist Dr Alan Teh. Image Credit: 123RFSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.