The da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic instrument that allows surgeons to create tiny incisions in their patients. The device purportedly allows surgeons to create incisions with a level of accuracy that cannot be achieved by the traditional tools of hands and a scalpel.
Because of its high potential for successful surgeries, the da Vinci system has quickly become in high demand across the nation. Unfortunately, the aggressive push for innovative surgery has pushed some doctors to use the da Vinci robot on patients without first attaining a proper amount of skill and experience. While the da Vinci device has the ability to benefit patients, it can easily hurt them through surgical mistakes made by an inexperienced surgeon.
A surgery mistake with the da Vinci Surgical System can cause devastating burn or tear injuries to the patient’s organs. Further, recent medical studies have questioned whether the da Vinci robot actually improves a patient’s outlook. The Journal of Clinical Oncology recently analyzed the results of hysterectomy procedures and found that the da Vinci system raised the cost of the surgery by nearly $2,000 while showing little evidence of medical benefits.
If you are considering the da Vinci Surgical System for your surgery, please ensure that your surgeon has a lot of experience with the robotic device. If you’ve been the victim of an operating room mistake, contact a skilled medical malpractice attorney to discuss your legal options for securing financial compensation.
Source: AboutLawsuits.com, “Tears, burns, other complications linked to da Vinci surgical robot,” April 9, 2012
