Navigating the Ethical Landmines of ChatGPT: Implications of Intelligent Chatbots in Plastic Surgery Clinical Practice
Nicholas C. Oleck, Hani I. Naga, David S. Nichols, Miranda X. Morris, Bhuwan Dhingra, Ash Patel
Abstract
ChatGPT is a cutting-edge language model developed by OpenAI with the potential to impact all facets of plastic surgery from research to clinical practice. New applications for ChatGPT are emerging at a rapid pace in both the scientific literature and popular media. It is important for clinicians to understand the capabilities and limitations of these tools before patient-facing implementation. In this article, the authors explore some of the technical details behind ChatGPT: what it is, and what it is not. As with any emerging technology, attention should be given to the ethical and health equity implications of this technology on our plastic surgery patients. The authors explore these concerns within the framework of the foundational principles of biomedical ethics: patient autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. ChatGPT and similar intelligent conversation agents have incredible promise in the field of plastic surgery but should be used cautiously and sparingly in their current form. To protect patients, it is imperative that societal guidelines for the safe use of this rapidly developing technology are developed.