Can Robots Safely Perform Surgeries on People?

The da Vinci Surgical System is used in procedures that treat a range of conditions including gynecological problems. Recently, an Alabama family filed a personal injury lawsuit against Intuitive Surgical claiming the company’s surgical robot botched a hysterectomy.

Gwendolyn Jones and Amos Jones Sr. claim Intuitive fraudulently marketed the defective medical device as the safest and effective method for the woman’s hysterectomy, deliberately hiding the risks of injury involved. When Gwendolyn Jones’ hysterectomy went wrong, she was left with injuries to her bladder and left ureter, according to MassDevice.

The complaint states that Intuitive sold its robots “through a calculated program of intimidation and market management, forcing hospitals and physicians to purchase it in order to appear to be competitive, and creating a fear in their minds that if they did not have this technology they would lose business to competitors."

The Jones’ seek $490 million in damages for negligence, pain & suffering, breach of warranty, fraud, loss of consortium, and unjust enrichment.

This personal injury lawsuit comes on the heels of a wrongful death suit filed last week against the same company. In that case, a 24-year-old woman died two weeks after undergoing the same surgery with a similar surgical robot.

If you or a loved one has been injured by an unsafe medical device, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if a product liability lawyer may be able to help you. For legal help, call (877) 490-6520

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