Health & Society

Read news stories, features and analysis below about the latest developments in healthcare from the award winning team of journalists at The Doctor magazine

Bot-ched advice – 'disturbing' results in AI study

Chatbots do quite well in diagnosing conditions ... but only in other chatbots, new research has found. Peter Blackburn reports

Health & Society By Peter Blackburn

Bot-ched advice – 'disturbing' results in AI study

Chatbots do quite well in diagnosing conditions ... but only in other chatbots, new research has found. Peter Blackburn reports

By Peter Blackburn 10.07.25

7th July – the doctors who ran towards danger

One of the four bombs which exploded in London on 7 July 2005 was on a bus outside BMA House in Tavistock Square. Peter Blackburn hears from two of the doctors who treated the wounded, turning the courtyard of BMA House into a field hospital

By Peter Blackburn 07.07.25

ARM debates prioritisation on specialty training programmes

Representatives also call for expansion in places and criticise ‘failure’ of government workforce planning

By Ben Ireland 26.06.25

BMA members vote to help fix ‘failed’ NHS workforce plan

Union to lobby for more senior doctor roles and easing of specialty training bottlenecks

By Ben Ireland 25.06.25

BMA condemns punitive action taken against climate activist doctors

Association calls for protections for members engaging in non-violent advocacy

By Ben Ireland 24.06.25

Call for assisted dying safeguards

Patients must have ‘informed choice’ with access to palliative care, doctors agree

By Peter Blackburn 23.06.25

Mental health services ‘not safe’

A public inquiry into the deaths of mental health inpatients in Essex has highlighted repeated failings and hopes to effect change across the country. Ben Ireland heard evidence from the latest round of hearings

By Ben Ireland 19.06.25

Climate activist doctor Sarah Benn's suspension extended

Tribunal finds retired GP’s fitness to practise ‘remains impaired’

By Ben Ireland 18.06.25