I wanted to compare outputs for an activity I have used generative text AI for quite a bit- the creation of case studies and vignettes to prompt discussion or to illuminate theoretical models. I used the same prompt in Bing Chat, Google Bard and ChatGPT on a topic that is out of my usual teaching domain. Here are the results. It’s fascinating to see the differences.

First my prompt:

I am working with a group of first year undergraduates. I need 5 vignettes to prompt discussion about legal issues and the health service in the UK. Each should be a short scenario that sketches out an issue, centring a different person each time from diverse backgrounds who has some kind of issue or conflict with a doctor or in a hospital. No further details are need other than an explanation of the issue. Each should be maximum 150 words.

Bing Chat chooses ‘a patient’ as the only identifier whilst Google Bard suggests some context to the patient. ChatGPT creates a persona with a name and is much more affective in this way but does it make them more effective? I suppose it depends on the nature of the discussion I want my students to have. Both Bing Chat and Chat GPT set out the vignettes as a whole but Google Bard suggests additional guidance; in many ways reflecting (without me requesting or stating this) the approach I would take if using scenarios in a class- the gradual layering on of more information or targetted prompts to steer a discussion in a certain direction without being over-inteventionist. I asked for diverse backgrounds but there’s something disconcerting about the way ChatGPT responded to this. Perhaps it’s because one feels very close to a personal experience? I should note, Google Bard’s alternatives were closer to the ChatGPT inital response. This is just one quick comparison of output and I can’t imagine using any without some adjustments but I do think this is an area of teaching where we could save a lot of labour.

Bing Chat

Here are five vignettes that could prompt discussion about legal principles and the law in the UK in relation to medical profession:

1. A patient is admitted to a hospital for a procedure but is not given enough information about the procedure or its risks. The patient is not able to give informed consent and suffers complications as a result.
2. A patient is given a medication that has been prescribed by their doctor. The medication causes an allergic reaction that was not identified by the doctor. The patient suffers serious harm as a result.
3. A patient is diagnosed with a serious illness but is not given appropriate treatment or care by their doctor. The patient’s condition worsens as a result.
4. A patient is discharged from hospital too early and without appropriate follow-up care. The patient’s condition worsens as a result.
5. A patient is given incorrect or incomplete information about their diagnosis or treatment. The patient suffers harm as a result.

I hope this helps.

Google Bard

Sure, here are 5 vignettes that you can use to prompt discussion about legal principles and the law in the UK:

1. A young woman from a minority ethnic group is refused a termination of pregnancy by her doctor, even though she has clearly stated that she does not want to continue with the pregnancy.
2. A man from a low-income background is denied access to a new cancer treatment because it is not yet available on the NHS.
3. A patient with learning disabilities is not given the same level of information about their treatment as other patients.
4. A patient is discriminated against because of their sexual orientation when they are seeking treatment for a mental health condition.
5. A patient is injured during a medical procedure and the hospital refuses to take responsibility for their injuries.

These vignettes all raise important legal issues, such as the right to autonomy, the right to equality, and the right to be free from discrimination. They can be used to prompt discussion about how these legal principles are applied in the context of healthcare.

Here are some additional details that you can provide to your students to help them better understand the legal issues involved in each vignette:

• In the first vignette, the young woman’s right to autonomy is at stake. Autonomy is the right to make decisions about one’s own body and life. The doctor’s refusal to perform a termination of pregnancy could be seen as a violation of this right.
• In the second vignette, the man’s right to equality is at stake. Equality means that everyone should be treated fairly and without discrimination. The man’s denial of access to a new cancer treatment could be seen as a violation of this right.
• In the third vignette, the patient with learning disabilities may not be able to understand the information that is being given to them about their treatment. This could lead to them being denied treatment that they need or being given treatment that is not in their best interests.
• In the fourth vignette, the patient is being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. This is a form of discrimination that is prohibited by law.
• In the fifth vignette, the patient is being denied compensation for their injuries. This could be a violation of their right to be compensated for harm that they have suffered.

These are just a few of the legal issues that can be raised by these vignettes. By discussing these issues, your students can learn more about the law and how it applies to healthcare.

ChatGPT

Here are five vignettes designed to prompt discussion about legal principles and the law in the UK, particularly in the context of healthcare settings:

1. Vignette 1: Consent and Minors
   • Sarah, a 15-year-old girl, is pregnant and wants an abortion. Her parents are devoutly religious and strongly oppose the procedure. Sarah’s doctor is conflicted about whether to proceed without parental consent.
2. Vignette 2: Data Protection
   • Ahmed, a 40-year-old software engineer, discovers that his medical records were accessed by a hospital employee without a valid reason. The employee is a friend of Ahmed’s estranged wife, and he worries that his private information will be misused.
3. Vignette 3: Discrimination
   • Priya, a transgender woman, goes to the hospital for a routine check-up. She feels that her doctor is treating her differently and making assumptions about her health based solely on her gender identity.
4. Vignette 4: End-of-Life Decisions
   • John, an 80-year-old man with terminal cancer, wants to refuse further treatment to let nature take its course. His adult children insist that he continue treatment, believing that a new experimental drug might help. The doctor is unsure whose wishes to honor.
5. Vignette 5: Medical Negligence
   • Fiona, a 25-year-old professional dancer, goes in for a minor knee surgery but ends up with a severe infection due to improperly sterilized equipment. Her career is jeopardized, and she considers taking legal action against the hospital.

Each of these vignettes presents a unique legal issue, from consent and data protection to discrimination, end-of-life decisions, and medical negligence.