New study on side effects of robotic surgery; case moves on

A couple of weeks ago I reported that the FDA has launched an investigation into the safety of the da Vinci surgical robot following a number of reports involving severe complications, internal injuries and patient deaths associated with the machine.  See here and here.  Some days later, the nation’s largest organization representing obstetricians and gynecologists recommended avoiding the use of robotic surgery system for hysterectomies.  See here. Now AboutLawsuits is reporting that a new study indicates that many individuals who elect to undergo robotic surgery for the prostate, kidney or bladder may face a risk of suffering a nerve injury. Go here for the full story.

In addition, a judge in Washington state court has denied an attempt by Intuitive Surgical to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit filed over problems with the da Vinci surgical robot, allowing the product liability case to proceed over the manufacturer’s failure to provide adequate training for doctors using the device. Go here for that story.