Saiontz & Kirk is no longer accepting new clients for da Vinci Surgical Robot Lawsuits
The contents of this page are provided for informational purposes only

As of May 2015, The product liability and medical malpractice lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are no longer reviewing potential lawsuits for individuals throughout the United States who have experienced serious injury or death following robotic surgery where the da Vinci Surgical Robot was used.

As a result of problems with the system, including potential design defects and a failure to provide adequate training, instructions and warnings on use of the device, financial compensation was previously being pursued by our law firm through a da Vinci robot surgery lawsuit for individuals who have experienced:

  • Surgical Burns to Arteries or Organs
  • Tears or Perforation of Arteries or Organs
  • Additional Surgical Procedures Following Robot Surgery
  • Wrongful Death Due to da Vinci Robotic Surgery Complications

New cases are no longer being accepted or reviewed. This page is provided for informational purposes about the nature of these claims and will not be updated after May 2015.

DA VINCI SURGICAL ROBOT PROBLEMS

The da Vinci Surgical System is a remote-controlled robot manufactured and marketed by Intuitive Surgery, Inc. for use in various types of surgery throughout the United States.

Since it was approved in the United States in 2000, it has grown in popularity by providing promises of less invasive surgery with a smaller incision, which reduces recovery time and is supposed to provide the surgeon with a greater range of motion than the human hand. However, a number of individuals have experienced serious and life-threatening complications and problems from da Vinci robotic surgery.

At a cost between $1 million and $2.25 million, plus annual maintenance expenses of $140,000 per year and replacement parts for each procedure that range from $1500 to $2000, many surgeons are pushed to use the da Vinci surgical robot to help hospitals recover costs.

As a result of aggressive marketing, there is a belief within the medical community that hospitals are at a competitive disadvantage if they do not have a da Vinci robot for surgical procedures, even though there is an absence of reliable data demonstrating that it is better for patients.

Although some research has suggested that surgeons may require as many as 200 cases for some procedures before they become proficient with da Vinci robotic surgery, minimal and insufficient training is available for physicians. Research has suggested that while a surgeon is learning the new techniques of robotic surgery, many patients will experience outcomes that are inferior to what might otherwise have occurred with an experienced surgeon.

Lawsuits over the da Vinci robot alleged that many physicians were not adequately trained or proctored on the proper use of the device, which may increase the risk of complications and injuries for patients.

In addition to training problems, design defects with the da Vinci surgical robot may be responsible for serious and potentially life-threatening injuries. In some cases, the monopolar energy used with the da Vinci system may cause injuries to surrounding parts of the body. The electrical current may also pass outside the surgical field as a result of potential problems with insulation for the arms, which may become worn or torn in places, without awareness of the surgeon.

Cuts, tears and burns may be suffered by nearby arteries or internal organs, which often go undetected for some time after surgery. These da Vinci robot injuries may result in severe complications days later, which require additional surgery, cause permanent injury or death.

da Vinci lawsuits allege that safer alternative designs were available, including other methods to cut, burn and cauterize tissue, such as bipolar energy and harmonic scalpel, which could reduce the risk of complications.

DA VINCI SURGICAL ROBOT CLASS ACTION LAWYERS

As of May 2015, the Da Vinci robotic surgery lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are no longer investigating potential lawsuits for individuals throughout the United States who have experienced surgical complications that may have been caused by problems with the da Vinci robot.