In 1984, I wrote algorithms and created a programme called “PAT”, the Paediatric Assessment Tool. This was to help junior doctors (SHOs) distinguish between minor and severe illnesses that require hospitalisation. I identified the loopholes, stopped validating this tool, and began searching for an alternative. This was long before Jerome Groopman mentioned Algorithms in his 2007 book, “How Doctors Think.” Overreliance on algorithms can lead to misdiagnoses and inadequate care, as they may miss atypical presentations and rare conditions.

He advocates for a more personalised approach, where physicians use their clinical judgment, experience, and intuition alongside evidence-based guidelines to make informed decisions. This approach encourages doctors to remain open-minded, consider a broader range of possibilities, and engage in thorough pati ...