MUHC in the Media - August 14, 2023

Researchers from CHU Sainte-Justine and the Montreal Children's Hospital recently asked ChatGPT 20 medical questions. The chatbot provided answers of limited quality (median score of 60 per cent), including a dozen of factual errors, and 69 per cent of the references were fabricated, show the results of their study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health. Dr. Esli Osmanlliu, co-author of the study, emergency physician at the Montreal Children's Hospital and scientist with the Child Health and Human Development Program at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, urges researchers to be vigilant. La Presse, CTV News, 98.5 FM

In March 2023, more than 75 per cent of Canadians had acquired immunity to COVID-19 through infection, reveals a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) and co-led by Dr. Bruce Mazer, a researcher at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and a specialist in allergy and immunology at the Montreal Children's Hospital, and Dr. David Buckeridge, also a researcher at the RI-MUHC. Agence QMI, The Montreal Gazette, CTV News, City News, Vancouver Sun, TVA Nouvelles, Radio-Canada, Courrier de Laval, 103,3 FM, The Globe and Mail

With the start of the new school year, an increase in COVID-19 cases is to be expected. The end of August would be a good time to consider getting a booster shot, notes Dr. Jesse Papenburg, pediatric infectious disease specialist and medical microbiologist at the Montreal Children's Hospital. Global News

John Kildea, scientist at the RI-MUHC and principal investigator of the Quebec SmartCare Consortium, commented on a report by the Commission de l'éthique en science et en technologie that highlights the issues that infringe on the deployment of Artificial Intelligence in Quebec's healthcare sector. The Canadian Press, CJAD, CTV News

With COVID-19 cases showing a slight rise and the new variant dubbed Eris making inroads, questions are being raised over the need for another booster shot. "More people may be getting sick, but they're not getting very sick," MUHC microbiologist Dr. Donald Vinh told The Gazette. "If you had that shot, it's likely you have some protection, although it will not be a perfect match to what is circulating now," Vinh said. "No vaccine ever will be." He also gave an interview to CTV News.