Do We Still Need Doctors? AI, PAs & The Future of Healthcare

Recent strikes by UK resident doctors, coupled with growing concerns over the increasing reliance on physician assistants, have ignited a debate about the future of medical practice. Simultaneously, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is prompting a fundamental reassessment of the role of doctors in healthcare systems.

Charlotte Blease, a health researcher, explores these converging issues in her forthcoming book, Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us—and How AI Could Save Lives, published by Yale University Press in September 2025. Blease’s work challenges conventional assumptions about the necessity of doctor-led healthcare, investigating whether current systems consistently deliver high-quality care and whether AI could potentially offer improvements.

The pressures facing doctors are multifaceted. A study cited in the Daily Mail revealed that 42 percent of UK doctors feel unable to cope with their workloads. This strain is exacerbated by the rapid pace of medical knowledge, with approximately 50 percent of information learned during medical school becoming outdated by the time of graduation, according to Blease.

The potential for AI to address these challenges is gaining attention. Research suggests AI can, in some instances, demonstrate superior interpersonal skills compared to human doctors. A Google chatbot, AMIE, exhibited better bedside manner in 24 out of 26 cases, as noted by Blease. This finding aligns with a broader trend highlighted in The Lancet, where the value of doctors is being questioned amidst discussions about role replacement and the capabilities of AI.

Blease’s research, detailed on her Substack publication, “The Quiet Infiltration,” indicates that AI is already integrated into clinical practice. Her focus is not on whether doctors are using AI—they are—but on how to ensure its responsible implementation. The book, according to a review in the British Journal of General Practice, is intended to provoke discussion and challenge established norms within the medical field.

The healthcare system globally is facing increasing demands, particularly from aging populations and individuals with chronic conditions. This strain, combined with concerns about medical errors and negligence claims, is fueling the exploration of alternative approaches, including those leveraging AI technology.