Full body MOTs - the future of healthcare or a headache for the NHS?
The market for private 'full-body' health scans is growing rapidly, with companies using AI to screen healthy individuals for potential diseases. Experts remain skeptical about the clinical necessity and long-term benefits of these preventative scans for asymptomatic patients.
Why it matters
This trend raises ethical and economic questions about the future of preventative healthcare and the potential burden on public health systems.
Image source, BBC and Neko Health Image caption, More than 2,000 images were taken of Ruth's skin
I don't mind having my photo taken - triple checked and filtered for Instagram - but 70 cameras pointing at me while I'm down to my knickers is a bit daunting.
A robotic voice tells me to stay still and close my eyes as I stand in a huge curved scanner while classical music plays in the background.
With a flash of light, 2,000 photographs are taken of my body, in the hope of capturing every mark, freckle and mole to analyse for different skin cancers.
This full-body scan is happening at a sci-fi-style clinic in Manchester city centre, with me wearing a dressing gown and hexagon-shaped rubber slippers. The millions of data points collected will create a 3D avatar of my body using AI.
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