Comparing large language models and human doctors in symptom-driven online medical consultations: A case study on trigeminal neuralgia

LLMs demonstrate strengths in perceived empathy and clarity but fall short in clinical accuracy and depth when addressing complex cases. Although they outperform doctors in communication-related aspects, their limitations in high-risk decision-making remain evident. As such, LLMs hold promise as adjunct tools for non-urgent consultations, but further refinement is needed to meet the standards of precise and personalized healthcare delivery.