Camille Naredo

Health workers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila work through the long weekend on October 31, 2023. Makr Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Health workers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila work through the long weekend on October 31, 2023. Makr Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Health Workers Serving Through the Holidays

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176900925880720231031-jose-fabella-workers-long-weekend-43.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Health workers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila work through the long weekend on October 31, 2023. Makr Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Health workers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila work through the long weekend on October 31, 2023. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Fifty-four-year old Liberty Perez has relied on herbal medicine for a significant portion of her life. It is, after all, what has kept her thyroid illness manageable. </p><p>Her satisfaction with herbal medicine is coupled with another tool, which she says has kept her relatively healthy in recent years: artificial intelligence (AI).</p><p>“Internet muna. Titignan ko muna. Pag alam kong kayang lunasan, yun ang ginagawa ko. Tapos pag hindi ko na kaya o lalong lumala, tsaka na ako magpapatingin,” she said.</p><p>(It’s the internet first. I’ll look at it and if I know it’s easy to manage, I’ll do that. I’ll only go to a doctor if I really can’t handle it. That’s the only time I seek consult.)</p><p>For many others like her, AI and cellphones has become the first stop for health concerns.</p><p>AI chatbots and search engines now offer instant answers to questions about symptoms. Most of the time it’s even faster and more convenient than visiting a doctor’s clinic. </p><p>But while AI can provide general health information, doctors warn that over reliance can be misleading and even dangerous.</p><p>AI tools are accessible, fast, and generally, free. A few taps gives users possible explanations for headaches, chest pain, or stomach discomfort.</p><p>For student Rose Mae Eran, AI helps her get an initial idea of what might be wrong. But she acknowledges that it has its limits.</p><p>“Kung magfo-focus ka sa AI, direct mo siyang malalaman, pero hindi ka sigurado. Ok lang gumamit ng AI kung gusto mo talagang malaman. Pero maganda pa rin po na magtanong ka sa doctor,“ Eran said.</p><p>(If you focus on AI, you can get a direct answer, but you’re not sure. It’s okay to use AI if you really want to know. But it’s still better to ask a doctor.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ASK AI ABOUT SYMPTOMS</strong></div><p>To see how AI responds, we tried entering a common concern into a chatbot — chest pains lasting for two days.</p><p>It only took a few seconds before AI listed several possible causes ranging from acid reflux, muscle strain, panic attack, and heart problems. While the information seemed thorough, experts say this is exactly where the risk lies.</p><p>AI provides possibilities, not diagnoses. It doesn’t know your medical history, lifestyle, or risk factors. This is something only a physician can assess.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CAN AI REPLACE DOCTORS? EXPERTS SAY NO</strong></div><p>Cardiologist Dr. Allan Gumatay said there is nothing wrong with using AI or search engines to learn about health as long as it does not replace medical consultation.</p><p>“Hindi bawal mag-Google. Because it&#x27;s there, it&#x27;s free. Walang restrictions. Pero, meron kasing filtering na dapat nangyayari. At si doktor yung talagang mag-filter,” he said.</p><p>(It’s not prohibited to Google. It’s there, it’s free. But there has to be filtering. The doctor is the one who really does the filtering.)</p><p>Gumatay added that unchecked health searches can also increase anxiety and negatively affect mental health.</p><p>Doctors, he said, play a crucial role not only in diagnosing illness but also in easing patients’ fears and determining whether symptoms need further investigation.</p><p>AI is already part of modern healthcare systems. It is used to assist in reading diagnostic tests such as Electrocardiograms (ECGs, 2D echocardiograms) and CT scans.</p><p>But experts stressed that AI-generated results should never be treated as final conclusions.</p><p>“The word is assisting us, not replacing,” Gumatay said. “We still need human oversight to filter the information and make proper decisions.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHY OVER TRUSTING AI CAN BE DANGEROUS</strong></div><p>A 2025 study by researchers of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people tend to over trust AI-generated medical advice, even when its accuracy is low.</p><p>Researchers warned that relying too much on incorrect or inappropriate AI recommendations can lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and more serious health outcomes.</p><p>This is especially risky for symptoms linked to heart disease, infections, or other potentially life-threatening conditions.</p><p>“AI systems should be implemented in collaboration with medical professionals when used for the delivery of medical advice in order to prevent misinformation while reaping the benefits of such cutting-edge technology,” the study read.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR?</strong></div><p>Doctors advise that AI should be used only as a starting point and not as a substitute for professional healthcare.</p><p>Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms worsen or persist, the pain is severe or unusual and if symptoms are already affecting breathing, consciousness or movement.</p><p>AI, Gumatay said, should encourage people to improve health seeking behavior, not avoid doctors.</p><p>“AI should increase interest in seeing a doctor, so illness can be prevented rather than ignored.”</p><p>Like other technological advancements, AI has arrived and is now actually being used in other sectors like education, science and even agriculture. The medical field is surely no exception.</p><p>And doctors may agree. AI may provide information, but humans remain responsible for health decisions.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ornv_uwi2u8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>AI chatbots and search engines now offer instant answers to questions about symptoms. </p>

AI chatbots and search engines now offer instant answers to questions about symptoms.

Can AI diagnose your illness? What experts say about using chatbots for health advice

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Can AI diagnose your illness? What experts say about using chatbots for health advice

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 21, 2026 11:57 PM PHT

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