Report: 144 Surgical Robot Deaths Since 2000

Da Vinci Lawsuit Attorneys note a news report of 144 surgical robot deaths in the U.S. since January 2000. In addition, 1391 injuries and over 8,000 device malfunctions were reported during this time. Surgical robot lawsuits have been filed against the maker of the da Vinci Surgical System and other robotic surgical devices for injuries and deaths.

If you or a loved one experienced a surgical robot injury or death, contact Attorney Group today for a free, confidential, no obligation consultation. We can help answer your questions, and if you decide to pursue a claim we can connect you with a surgical robot lawsuit attorney who can assist you through the legal process.

Important: The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.

Certain Patients “Several Times More Likely to Die”

According to the BBC News report, injuries—sometimes leading to surgical robot deaths—have occurred as the result of electrical sparks, parts falling into patients’ bodies, and system errors causing surgery to take loner than expected. And whereas robotic surgery is noted as being able to reduce the risk of infection and reducing recovery times, the article notes that “when problems do occur, people are several times more likely to die if the surgery involves their heart, lungs, head and/or neck….”

A breakdown of the causes of injury and death in the article notes:

  • 1,166 cases of broken/burned parts falling into patients’ bodies, which contributed to 119 injuries and one death.
  • Uncontrolled movements and spontaneous powering on/off of the machines are said to have caused 52 injuries and two deaths.
  • Electrical sparks, unintended charring and damaged accessory covers are linked to 193 injuries, including the burning of body tissues.
  • The loss of quality video feeds and/or reports of system error codes are said to have contributed to a further 41 injuries and one death.

Better instructions by product manufacturer to surgical teams on how to address problems when they arise has been cited as one way to potentially reduce the risk of surgical robot deaths.

Injured Patients May Be Entitled to Compensation

When a product such as a medical device is defective and poses an unreasonable danger to patients, the device maker may be liable for any injuries that are caused by the device. Injured patients may be able to recover compensation for such damages as:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income
  • Pain and Suffering
  • Scarring caused by the defect or treatment for the injury

If a patient dies because of a defective medical device, the surviving family may be able to recover damages for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:

  • The loved one’s pain and suffering prior to death
  • Medical expenses incurred as a result of the fatal injury
  • Loss of relationship with the deceased family member
  • Loss of economic support

Injured patients or the families of those killed are encouraged to seek the advice of a qualified attorney to help them understand their rights when a medical device such as a surgical robot causes harm.

Contact Us for More Information

If you experienced a surgical robot injury, or if you want to learn more about reported surgical robot deaths, contact Attorney Group for more information. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.

When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.

Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.

See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group today.

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