Burn Injury Attorneys
An overwhelming number of individuals have suffered from burns and organ damage after undergoing surgical procedures that used the da Vinci robotic surgery. Manufactured and marketed by Intuitive Surgical, the da Vinci device is allegedly defective and may cause serious injuries. Plaintiffs are currently seeking legal counsel from burn injury attorneys to obtain compensation for medical bills, pain, suffering and lost wages.
Da Vinci Robotic Surgery May Cause Burns
Created by Intuitive Surgical to assist doctors performing complex procedures, the da Vinici robotic surgery system allows surgeons to perform difficult tasks more effectively and accurately. The physician maneuvers the robotic arms through a joystick-like control panel and is, according to Intuitive, able to perform the procedure with more precision. However, the drawback is that physicians are unable to physically feel the procedure because they sit a few feet apart from the patient at a separate console. Still, doctors who claim that the da Vinci robot is defective say that it is a small price to pay for the robot’s supreme vision and three-dimensional capabilities. Burn injury attorneys, however, think otherwise.
Those who are seeking compensation with the help of burn injury attorneys because of their injuries during surgical procedures maintain that the da Vinci Surgical System is defective and that the robot is prone to inadvertent burning of nearby tissues and organs. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received over 24 adverse event reports in 2009 alone associated with the da Vinci Robot; by 2012, the number had increased to 115. Thousands of patients are seeking legal help from burn injury attorneys to learn about their rights.
Plaintiffs Allege Side Effects and Complications
Plaintiffs currently working with burn injury attorneys claim that they have suffered from infections, scarring from incisions made in the abdomen, bowel injuries, a longer recovery time, excessive bleeding, cut ureters and even death resulting from da Vinci robotic surgery. However, one of the most serious side effects, burning, stems from the scissors that are attached to the robot itself.
Plaintiffs also claim that the robotic arms are not properly insulated and can allow an electrical current to move from defective, malfunctioning organs and affect nearby healthy tissues sporadically. Physicians also maintain that the arcing, or jumping of electricity from the device to the patient, can cause serious electrical burns and other injuries including infections, bleeding, emergency abdominal surgeries, longer recovery times and even death, leading many injured and seeking compensation with assistance from burn injury attorneys.
Da Vinci Robot May Be Defective
The da Vinci robot may also be at an increased risk for developing microscopic cracks in the covers that cover the instrument as insulation; these cracks are what can allow electricity to leak and burn patients inadvertently. Some doctors acknowledge that these cracks are not always within their view, so they may not see flying sparks or tissues burning until it is too late. The testimonies of such doctors would be properly utilized by burn injury attorneys.
On May 8, 2013, Intuitive Surgical released a warning to doctors acknowledging that the scissors used to cauterize tissues are likely to develop cracks, creating an unfortunate pathway for strong electric currents to leak out of the robot.
The FDA received adverse event reports which included procedures that involved:
- Burning of the patient, leading to bowel ischemia and death
- Flaming, sparking and smoking cauterizing scissors
- Scissors damaging vessels, leading to an emergency laparatomy
- Sparking scissors that charred blood vessels
These instances happened in a variety of da Vinci robotic surgery procedures including hysterectomies, prostatectomies and other routine surgeries. Plaintiffs have since filed lawsuits with the help of burn injury attorneys.
Contact Us Today
If you or someone you love has suffered from burns during a da Vinci robotic surgery, contact the burn injury attorneys at Attorney Group. We will provide a free consultation of your case and work to determine whether you are eligible to pursue a claim. You may be entitled to seek compensation for medical bills, injuries, lost wages and pain and suffering resulting from your surgical burns.
