Da Vinci Surgical System
Plaintiffs, in conjunction with Florida da Vinci lawsuit attorneys, are currently filing lawsuits, alleging that Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci robot caused complications including excessive bleeding, punctured vessels and burns. In response to the rise in complaints and concern pertaining to the safety of the system, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an official investigation to determine whether the manufacturer is responsible for the allegations brought forth.
If you or someone you love has undergone robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System and afterward suffered an injury, you may consider seeking legal counsel from Florida da Vinci lawsuit attorneys to seek compensation for your suffering. You may be entitled to file for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Uses of the Da Vinci Robot
Manufactured by Intuitive Surgical and approved for use by the FDA in 2000, the robot is designed to perform minimally invasive surgeries including gynecological, laparoscopic, urologic and non-cardio theracoscopic procedures. Some instances in which patients have chosen the robot over the alternative laparoscopic procedure include:
- Endometriosis
- Heavy intrauterine bleeding
- Procedures to reduce obesity
- Kidney and throat cancers
- Treatment of uterine fibroids
- Prostate removal procedures
- Partial or complete hysterectomies
While there have allegedly been no conclusive studies showing that the da Vinci Surgical System is a safer or better alternative for surgeons performing procedures, there are many signs that indicate that the benefits may not necessarily outweigh the positives.
Plaintiffs and Florida da Vinci lawsuit attorneys maintain that costs of the robot are significantly greater than other methods, surgery may take longer and recovery times have not been proven to be any shorter than comparable methods.
Intuitive Warns of Burn Risk
Intuitive warned the medical community in May 2013 of the potential for inadvertent patient burns resulting from the da Vinci Surgical System’s scissors. According to the urgent notification, some versions of the accessory may be prone to developing small cracks, creating a pathway for a severe electro-surgical charge. Unfortunately, not all cracks would be visible to surgeons. Despite the risk, the company has chosen not to recall the device; instead, they issued replacement instruments after removing the affected units from hospitals.
Complaints and Allegations
Despite its popularity, the number of complaints concerning injuries stemming from the use of the surgical system has increased over the past several years. Allegations from plaintiffs and the Florida da Vinci lawsuit attorneys representing them include design flaws such as an uninsulated surgical arm that could cause burns and electrical currents that may deviate from the intended route to nearby health tissues and organs. Additionally, some plaintiffs allege that Intuitive failed to warn the medical community and patients about the risks of using the device.
Injuries that have been referred to in lawsuits filed by plaintiffs and their Florida da Vinci lawsuit attorneys include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Intestinal tearing
- Uterine lacerations
- Burns
- Sepsis
- Nerve injuries
- Punctured organs or vessels
- Death
Other claims allege that the manufacturer failed to properly train surgeons prior to using the robot and that Intuitive allegedly marketed he device to hospitals solely to increase market share and profits. Rather than informing the public and medical community about the potential dangers and complications associated with the device, plaintiffs and their Florida da Vinci lawsuit attorneys allege that Intuitive misled, misrepresented and withheld information as well as used aggressive marketing tactics to meet their quarterly sales goals.
There is also allegedly no training standard for physicians attempting to use the device; while Intuitive does provide a two-day training course, the company then leaves the rest of the training and decisions to each individual hospital. While some facilities take training seriously and require surgeons to undergo hundreds of hours of practice and skill-building, other hospitals have allegedly placed surgeons at the device with no training whatsoever.
In March 2013, the FDA issued a survey to surgeons in an effort to investigate the claims of complications surrounding the da Vinci Surgical System. The agency interviewed a number of surgeons in an attempt to determine the training the physicians received and the types of procedures the surgeons feel could be completed properly by way of the robot.
Injured? Have Questions? Contact Attorney Group for Florida
Have you or someone you love been injured during or following a procedure that used the da Vinci Surgical System? If so, you may not know where to turn to seek compensation. The attorneys affiliated with Attorney Group for Florida can help you through the process. We will provide you with a free consultation and connect you with experienced Florida da Vinci lawsuit attorneys if we feel you have a valid claim. So contact Attorney Group for Florida today for your free consultation.
