During the process
of robotic surgery, including the DaVinci Robot, a doctor controls a surgical
device or machine that assists with the surgery based on the doctor’s controls;
although many people tout the use of these devices, the possibility of
malpractice during this type of surgery is certainly present. According to a study
by researchers from MIT, Rush University Medical Center and the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 10,000 incident reports from the FDA ranging from
2000 to 2013 were analyzed and researchers discovered that robots were involved
in 144 patient deaths and 1,391 patient injuries.
Risks unique to
robotic surgeries
Examples of the
types of mechanical errors that occurred deal with burnt or broken pieces of
tools falling into the patient, electrical sparking, and accidental movements
from the robots. Other issues can occur,
such as the doctor’s inability to properly operate the robotic device, using
the robotic device on the incorrect body part, the doctor’s misreading of what
the robot’s camera sees which could lead to using the wrong process for
treating the patient, or improper maintenance of the robotic device leading to
malfunction. More errors were reported
in complex cardiothoracic and head and neck surgeries, as opposed to gynecology
and urology procedures where the robots were noted to perform well.
How can you protect
yourself if you are recommended to have a robotic assisted surgery? It is helpful to perform a full evaluation of
how well a doctor can handle a robotic surgery, including asking the doctor how
many of these procedures they have done in the past and how those surgeries
went. Discuss the potential risks in
great detail with your doctor and don’t be afraid to ask any questions.
Do your homework on
any robotic procedure recommended to you
Perform your own
research about the type of robotic device that the doctor is recommending for
your surgery. The world is always
changing and evolving, and it is possible for these types of surgeries to
increase quickly. According to an
article in the Wall Street Journal, some forecasters predict that robotics,
automation and artificial intelligence will soon overwhelm the job market,
which means that we need to stay informed about these unique types of
surgeries.
If you or a loved one have suffered
from an injury or death as a result of a robotic assisted surgery, please call
my office for a free consultation.
SOURCES
http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/robotic-surgery-linked-144-deaths-2000-n395811
http://malpracticecenter.com/robotic-surgery-malpractice/
https://www.wsj.com/articles/robots-will-save-the-economy-1494796013
