Ethical implications of using ChatGPT in medical students
Abstract
Introduction: Although ChatGPT can contribute to personalized learning and thus have a significant impact on the education and training of healthcare professionals, its overuse presents challenges, as it can create distractions, limit innovation, and increase educational disparities.
Objective: To analyze the ethical implications of the use of ChatGPT by medical students during their medical training.
Methods: A literature review was conducted using the PubMed/Medline databases. The review included 28 scientific articles published between December 1, 2022, and May 10, 2025. The articles included seven original studies, five review articles, ten expert/short communications, and six book chapters.
Results: Although the integration of ChatGPT into medical education offers significant benefits, its use poses serious ethical considerations and limitations. Overuse can lead to distractions and inhibit the development of critical thinking and creativity skills. It can also exacerbate educational disparities. Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding information accuracy, citation fabrication, plagiarism, and data privacy, particularly when it comes to sensitive patient information. Therefore, cautious implementation is imperative.
Conclusions: ChatGPT's advancement offers significant opportunities in medical education, such as improving clinical reasoning and personalizing learning. However, excessive reliance on it could hinder critical thinking and encourage plagiarism. Therefore, it is crucial to balance its advantages with the safeguarding of the fundamental principles of the medical profession to promote responsible usage.
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Copyright (c) 1970 Alberto José Piamo Morales
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22 julio 2025