October 19, 2025
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2 min
😷 Doctor: “We need to know exactly what we need to do. Failure is not an option.”
🤓 Developer: “Trial and error. That’s often an important part of coding. Sometimes a solution seems to work, but it breaks something somewhere else. Then it’s a matter of taking a step back.”
The approaches of the two may seem completely opposite. You might find it hard to imagine reversing the process. And yet, doctors and developers may have more in common than you would think at first glance.
The difference is that medical science is highly advanced, and knowledge is often available beforehand. But even here, there is still room for new developments. Years of research can lead to experimental treatments. Of course, we don’t start by testing these on people. Developers, on the other hand, always work from an experimental environment. Because even in a live environment, nothing should go wrong. In a testing or acceptance environment, developers can experiment “safely.”
Doctors also carefully monitor the effects of a proposed treatment. Side effects are closely monitored. Some side effects are accepted, but often it is also a matter of adjusting the treatment along the way. Every person responds differently, and we cannot predict in advance how a patient will react. The same principle applies to the development of applications. Effects are measured, and any unwanted effects or side effects need to be corrected.
What can the two learn from each other? Developers work in an iterative process that responds directly to the results they achieve. Adjustments happen continuously. When patients visit a doctor, they are often initially the ones taking the lead in identifying the effects of a treatment. A clearer feedback loop in practice could perhaps make a difference here.
Developers, in turn, could learn from the human interaction between doctors and patients. By being more closely connected to users, you can learn even better how to approach problems from a human perspective.
🟢 TodayTomorrow creates human-centered technology for the healthcare of tomorrow. In the Developers & Doctors series, we share fascinating insights into our collaboration with healthcare professionals.