“…That I will exercise my art solely for the cure of my patients and the prevention of disease and will give no drugs and perform no operation for a criminal purpose and far less suggest such a thing...”

Although I’m not a doctor, twice a year I find myself standing alongside a room full of future and current physicians as we recite the Hippocratic Oath. This solemn tradition takes place first at the white coat ceremony when we welcome new cohorts of MD and MD-PhD students to the School, and again at graduation, as we send our newly minted doctors to the healthcare front lines. The extract from the Oath just quoted always resonates deeply with me, underscoring the noble commitment of physicians to prioritise their patients’ healing.

Yet, in this modern age dominated by machines—or simply AI, as many of us think of it—I often wonder shouldn’t the focus be on more than just prescribing medications or performing surgeries.

And that is precisely what this issue’s podcast explores, where we’re joined by Dr Devanand Anantham, who leads the newly established SingHealth Duke-NUS Medical Humanities Institute. Together, we delve into the complexities of modern medicine, exploring the delicate balance between technological advancements and the crucial human touch. We examine the potential of AI in medicine and discuss why, now more than ever, our conversations about health must embrace a more holistic view of patient wellbeing.

These abstract arguments are best brought to life in the story of “Mrs Tan,” a retiree whose passion for gardening has been overshadowed by severe knee pain. Her doctors recommend knee replacement surgery to alleviate her discomfort. However, Dr Anantham challenges us to consider whether this surgery will enable Mrs Tan to squat comfortably in her garden as she once did. His perspective reminds us that treating patients involves looking beyond their symptoms to understand what truly matters in their lives.

I am also also struck by Dr Anantham’s argument that our humanity is best reflected when we consider the whole wellbeing of individuals, not just their physical health. And while AI and teleconsultations bring new efficiencies and capabilities, they lack the depth to fully understand and prioritise the nuanced personal needs and life contexts of patients.

This conversation reminds me of the philosophy of mindfulness, inspired by Ellen Langer, the Harvard professor known as the “mother of mindfulness”. She teaches that “mindfulness isn’t just about knowing what you’re doing. It’s about noticing new things. When you notice new things, that puts you in the present.”

So, grab a hot cuppa and “mindfully” dive into this issue of MEDICUS to explore the podcast with Dr Anantham and the collection of carefully curated stories that we’ve put together for you in this issue.

Happy reading, and please, let us know what other topics you’d like us to cover. Your input helps make MEDICUS the magazine of choice for our community.

Anirudh Sharma
Editor-in-chief