Second Life Medical Training

The virtual world has changed everything we know, so why not the way doctors treat patients?

That’s what happening in at the Imperial College in London. Students there “navigate a full-service hospital where they see patients, order X-rays, consult with colleagues and make diagnoses.” The only catch? It’s all in the virtual world. The patients they “see” on are on the computer screen and they are essentially playing a game to learn how to treat them.

While I think this might be interesting for a week or so, nothing can replace hands on learning. I’d personally rather see this hospital spend more time on getting students real-life education than on working in a virtual world to treat patients. It isn’t the same thing.

What do you think?

Image: sxc.hu.