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Da Vinci Surgical Robot Injuries
A number of da Vinci robotic surgery lawsuits have been filed against Intuitive Surgical, Inc., maker of the da Vinci surgical system. The da Vinci surgical machine has been linked to the following injuries:
- Burns
- Tears
- Peritonitis
- Tissue inflammation
- Infection
- Sepsis
- Excessive bleeding
- Punctured blood vessels, organs or arteries
- Severe bowel and intestine injuries
- Correction surgery
- Follow-up surgery
- Wrongful death
The da Vinci surgical robot system, which received FDA approval in 2000 through a controversial process called “premarket notification,” often used to permit medical devices to be used without the typical rigorous testing required of new drugs/devices, has been the subject of numerous lawsuits alleging:
- Improper training for surgeons
- Defective product design
- Equipment malfunction
- Improper marketing tactics
FDA Reports Serious Injuries and Deaths Linked to Da Vinci System
In July 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned Intuitive Surgical that there would be equipment seizures and fines if the company did not correct alleged violations regarding the da Vinci surgical system. The FDA claimed that the company was not adequately reporting adverse events caused by the robotic system.
A review of FDA data regarding these adverse events revealed that 71 deaths and 174 serious injuries were associated with the da Vinci surgical system. A surgeon who contributed to the review said the current FDA self-reporting system is “haphazard and inconsistent.” In addition, a 2014 study suggested that the use of the da Vinci surgical robot for ovarian cyst removal could result in more complications than ordinary minimally invasive techniques. Other studies showed that surgery with the da Vinci system offered no significant improvement over traditional laparoscopic approaches to other surgeries, including gallbladder removal and colorectal surgery.
Da Vinci Surgical System Lawsuits: When to Contact an Attorney
If you or a loved one have been injured after undergoing a medical procedure performed with a da Vinci surgical robot system, contact Thomas J. Henry immediately. Our experienced defective medical device and dangerous drug attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends to take your call and evaluate your da Vinci surgical system lawsuit. Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Houston serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Call us today for a free case review.
