The Doctor’s Future
Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli
Balboa Press (2025)
ISBN: 979-8765257814
Reviewed by Ada Jenkins for Reader Views (12/2025)
Have you ever wondered how AI will impact the medical profession? After reading The Doctor’s Future: A Blueprint for Future-Proofing Your Profession and for Healthcare Decision Makers Leading the Evolution of AI/Robotics-Powered Medicine, my eyes were certainly opened to this subject! Even though I’m a layperson and by no means a medical professional, I was drawn to this book, mainly because AI and robotics are fast becoming a central part of modern society. In this book, Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli argues that doctors must find a way to work with this new technology and incorporate it into their practices. This way, healthcare systems can be improved through AI’s efficiency, while also retaining a compassionate and patient-centered approach.
I was surprised to discover that this inspiring book is, in fact, very user-friendly. It succeeded in capturing my imagination! There’s an excellent balance of science-based research and speculative scenarios for the reader to reflect on, and I found myself pondering possibilities that I hadn’t considered before. For example, in chapter two, the author asks us to step into a situation in the not-too-distant future, where a patient suffering from bowel symptoms requires medical assistance. The process of testing, diagnosing, and treating him is set out for us in terms of the role of AI and robotics. This made for fascinating reading, particularly the hologram AI assistant, which schedules treatment and documents the conversation. These envisaged situations show how AI can help doctors lessen their workload, spending less time on frustrating administrative tasks. This allows them to focus on their patients and avoid burnout.
However, there is a darker side to these technological advancements. The question of whether AI is a burden or a blessing is explored from every angle, with vivid imagery reflecting anxiety and ambivalence toward AI that I, for one, can certainly relate to. The metaphor of AI being compared to receiving a gift encapsulates these mixed emotions. Some people might be curious about this unknown present, others more cautious:
On the other side, you could experience fear that you might not like it, anxiety about having to keep it even if you don’t like it, embarrassment about not understanding how to use it straightaway…
Metaphors such as this helped me to build rapport with the author, as I am also a little wary of artificial intelligence and robots. For doctors, this advancement is particularly daunting, with questions surrounding liability and medical errors caused by poorly designed algorithms being just two examples of what they’re up against. After all, who’s to blame if a mistake is made or confidential information is leaked?
I think that doctors, policy makers, and leaders in healthcare will find much to ponder after reading this book. To me, what makes The Doctor’s Future visionary is the fact that the author delves into a medical future that incorporates AI and robotics, which will very soon become a stark reality. Through Dr. Garbelli’s insistence on advocating for clear guidelines on accountability and moving with rather than against a tech-driven environment, doctors can be equipped to lead the way into a more efficient future without sacrificing their values.