This is an overview of medical developments because of technology. I have broad exposure to both technology and the medical field so didn't learn, as I had hoped, a lot from the book. There is more time spent on the anecdotes from the author, more than it felt was required to communicate the point.

a really interesting book that argues what we could have in store for us in the future of medicine with the advancement of technology. singh covers all the bases for the arguments for and against different developments such as AI, robotics and virtual care: from rising costs, less personalization from in-person visits, disparate care across communities, and inefficiencies in treatment due to medical bureaucracies and insurance. he makes a strong case for how medical care can do what it is intended to do, which is focus on the patients' satisfaction of life, make care accessible, and ensure it is efficient and accurate.

i actually enjoyed his personal anecdotes from his own experience being hospitalized with covid and in helping his patients, and he weaves these stories in with logical writing that makes a compelling case for the rise of smart technology. though i consider myself far from a luddite, i do have some hesitations with technology and the over-romanticization of the potential for technology to "disrupt" the status quo. i wish he covered more about the risks of privacy and the breaches that could occur with an increased reliance on sensored and remote devices, but at least he didn't ignore the issue. with any medical development you have to measure the risks with benefits. though risks and mistakes will never completely disappear, the benefits technology could have for the overall health and well-being of people who use these devices has great potential. he does raise the ethical issues that need to be considered and thoughtfully weighed as these tools develop over time. he also address biases in technology, through data collection and the framing of it, to the outputs of AI, apps, and other forms of digital healthcare tools.

i was really compelled by the idea of medical practice no longer being bound by their borders as capabilities in the health field accelerate. over time, we will not only have to consider new efficiencies with cost and the degree of service, but we will also have to consider the structural imbalances people face simply by being born in a certain part of the world. when so much is able to be done digitally to free people from the limitations of in-person visits, there is no excuse to deny someone care in another country, for example.  and though he doesn't tackle the issue of socialized medicine (which i favor), he does at least discusses areas of inequity in healthcare access among race, gender, or economic divides. i do wish there were more in this book about the economics of healthcare, and how workers and patients will be impacted in their pocketbooks over time with these changes. though it's great to have better care, who will bear the brunt of the cost?

singh also focuses primarily on the evolution of care now received in hospitals for heart failures, strokes, and cancer, but i wish there were more about the possibilities digital care could open up for addiction and mental health treatment. i appreciated his highlights on preventative care, and how technology could benefit patients to take initiative over their health before they even get sick, but i feel like there was more to explore in that arena. 

i have no medical expertise and this book was very approachable. the language was accessible, his arguments clear, and the book was easy to follow along. thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an early copy of the book in return for an honest review.