The ICU and the Terror of AI

After a long career in teaching and research, I retired from a highly politicised university, where every decision was made to serve either the ruling party or the equally powerful opposition — each backed by its own teachers’ associations, student unions, and even clerks’ and sweepers’ unions.

Because I was not associated with any politicised association, but concerned more with my intellectual activities, they declared me an enemy and jointly did me all manner of harm. Thanks to the timely intervention of the judiciary, they could not do much. Instead of relying wholly on lawyers, I used to teach them how my own cases should be handled, and I won most of them.

The High-Tech Hospital

After retirement, pains in my neck, back and knees became evident. My children, working abroad, insisted I visit a newly established high-tech, AI-powered hospital staffed with robotic doctors and owned by a multinational corporation. I fixed an appointment and went with my wife.

To my surprise, the security and counter staff were doctors with at least an MBBS degree. I asked them about it; they told me there were not many opportunities for doctors, even those with an MD or MS, because most of their work had been taken over by humanoid doctors powered by AI. At the registration counter I was asked to sit in a special chair before a welcoming robot. As soon as I sat down, it prepared a long medical test report within moments.

A World of Illumination and Illusion

Suddenly I was moved into a fully AI- and robot-managed Intensive Care Unit. It was a world of illumination and illusion. I did not know where I was — in paradise or in hell. I was frequently attended by humanoid doctors and nurses. Occasionally I longed, in vain, for a real human doctor or nurse. It was a real terror. I was not even sure whether my kidney or liver was still with me — I had read many reports of human organs lost in hospitals to the international organ-trading mafia.

Luckily, after three days, I was discharged with a large bundle of medicines. My first task was to check at a local hospital to confirm that my internal organs were safely in place.

The Human Cure

In spite of the strict medication and frequent check-ups, my pain grew worse. Then someone suggested an old Ayurvedic doctor. After examining my eyes, lips, teeth and blood pressure, holding my hands, and asking about my work, responsibilities, environment, food and sleep, he advised me: drink enough water, avoid late nights, eat on time with less red meat, avoid high-breed cow milk and curd and use only goat milk, and visit the hills occasionally. He gave me some kashaya and arishtam. I followed his advice. After two months I became healthy — and youthful too.

When the doctor is a machine, who holds your hand?