Underreporting of da Vinci robotic surgeries may be contributing to increased incidence of injury to patients who elect the robotic procedures lacking an accurate understanding of inherent risks. Bloomberg recently published an unsettling news story recently about a 45-year old woman, Sheena Wilson, who underwent da Vinci robotic surgery for a hysterectomy believing it to be safe only to awake from the surgery with serious injuries leaving her disabled. As reported by Bloomberg, Ms. Wilson said if she had known others had... Read More

On May 8, 2013, Intuitive Surgical, the manufacturer of the da Vinci surgical robot, issued an urgent medical device notification and also advised the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a problem with one of the surgical robot’s instruments.* The document issued by the company warned that the Hot Shears™ Monopolar Curved Scissors may develop “micro-cracks,” which “may create a pathway for electrosurgical energy to leak to tissue during use.”* This leaked energy could potentially burn patients undergoing surgery.* Intuitive Surgical... Read More