Technology Cannot Replace Human Touch in Medicine: VP Radhakrishnan
Vice-President urges medical graduates to combine scientific excellence, compassion and integrity
GG News Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram, 27th Sept: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday attended the 15th Graduation Day Ceremony of Sree Uthradom Thirunal (SUT) Academy of Medical Sciences in Thiruvananthapuram as the chief guest and urged graduating doctors to combine technological expertise with compassion and ethical responsibility.
Addressing the graduates, Radhakrishnan said the healthcare sector is undergoing rapid transformation with the growing use of artificial intelligence, robotics, digital health, advanced imaging and precision medicine.
“Technology can assist a doctor, but it cannot replace the human aspects of a doctor,” he said, stressing that while machines can analyse data and algorithms can identify patterns, patients still need doctors who can listen, understand, reassure and take responsibility.
The Vice-President said the inauguration of robotic surgery and computer-aided diagnosis facilities at the institute reflected the need to align medical education and healthcare with technological advances.
He urged the graduates to uphold the trust associated with the medical profession through accurate diagnosis, honest communication, compassionate treatment and ethical decision-making.
Higher education and medical education
Radhakrishnan said Bharat is progressing towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, and emphasised that access to higher education is central to achieving this goal.
Highlighting the expansion of medical education, he said that while the country earlier had only one AIIMS in New Delhi, 12 new AIIMS have since been established.
He also noted the increasing participation of women in higher education. At the SUT graduation ceremony, 60 women and 32 men were receiving undergraduate degrees, while five women and two men were receiving postgraduate degrees.
Three principles for young doctors
The Vice-President gave three guiding principles to the graduating doctors: “Knowledge in their minds, Compassion in their hearts, Integrity in their conduct.”
He urged them to remain confident but humble, ambitious but ethical, and technologically advanced while retaining compassion and social responsibility. He also called on the young doctors to stay away from drugs.
Concluding his address, Radhakrishnan wished the graduates a successful and meaningful professional journey and said the greatest privilege of being a doctor is the opportunity to make a difference in another person’s life.
The ceremony was attended by Governor of Tamil Nadu and Kerala Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar, Kerala Minister Bindhu Krishna, SUT Academy Chairman Dr A. C. Shanmugam, Kerala University of Health Sciences Vice Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnummal, faculty members, students and their families.
