Scenario: Medical triage AI — CCA-F Exam Prep

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L3.20|Scenario: Medical triage AI
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Real story
A busy emergency room. A triage nurse stares at a screen showing an AI recommendation: 'Low priority - wait time: 4 hours.' Behind the screen, a patient clutches their chest. The AI's confidence score reads 94%. A small text at the bottom of the screen: 'Presenting complaint: chest pain + nausea.' Tense, clinical lighting.

A 52-year-old walks into the ER. 'My stomach hurts and I feel nauseous.'

The AI triage system categorizes the complaint. Stomach pain + nausea = low priority. Wait time: 4 hours. Confidence: 94%.

The triage nurse overrides the AI. She notices the patient is sweating, pale, and rubbing their left arm. Classic heart attack presentation. The patient said 'stomach pain' because that's what it felt like to them.

Without the human override, the patient would have waited 4 hours. They were having a heart attack.