Does medical technology diminish the importance of the doctor-patient relationship?

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: As medical technology advances, a tension emerges between technical precision and the human connection. This lecture explores whether a doctor's bedside manner remains vital in a high-tech era.

Martin Elliott, Professor Emeritus of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UCL and Provost of Gresham College, examines the apparent conflict between increasing medical technology and the necessity of the patient-doctor relationship. This discussion, delivered on February 14, 2018, questions how interpersonal connection holds up amidst rapid scientific advancement.

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