Da Vinci Robot Lawsuit Update: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Comments on Study Being Used by Intuitive Surgical to Promote da Vinci Surgical System

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Some studies involving other robot-assisted surgeries have found that these procedures are more expensive and offer patients no added benefits, compared to other minimally-invasive alternatives.

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 11, 2014

Intuitive Surgical, Inc., which is facing dozens of da Vinci robot lawsuits (http://www.davincirobotlawsuithelp.com/) filed on behalf of patients who were allegedly injured by the da Vinci Surgical System, is touting yet another study that indicates robotic surgery offers patients advantages over open procedures, Bernstein Liebhard LLP reports.* The study, which was published in the Journal of Endourology, looked 71,300 radical prostatectomies performed between 2004 and 2010, and found that the procedure was associated with shorter hospital stays and fewer complications than open methods.**

“While the robotic surgery patients involved in this study appear to have done better compared to patients who underwent an open procedure, the research did not compare the robot-assisted surgery to minimally invasive laparoscopy. Some studies involving other robot-assisted surgeries have found that these procedures are more expensive and offer patients no added benefits, compared to other minimally-invasive alternatives,” says Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing the victims of defective drugs and medical devices. The Firm is currently offering free da Vinci lawsuit evaluations to anyone who may have suffered serious injuries, including surgical burns, torn blood vessels, and organ perforations, in procedures involving the da Vinci Surgical System.

Da Vinci Robot Lawsuits

Last year, a number of studies were published that raised doubts about the costs and benefits of robot-assisted surgery. In February, for example, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that robotic surgery hysterectomy was more expensive compared to other methods, with little difference in complication rates.*** In August, research that appeared in the Journal of Healthcare Quality suggested that da Vinci complications may be underreported to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).**** And most recently, Bloomberg.com reported in September that a study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology found that robotic hysterectomy is not associated with reduced rates of complications, and may even double a patient’s risk of developing pneumonia.*****

Bloomberg.com also revealed in November that reports of robotic surgery complications to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) that involved the da Vinci Surgical System had more than doubled last year. For its part, Intuitive Surgical maintains that the increase was related to the growth of robotic procedures, and asserted that “total adverse event rates have remained low and in line with historical trends.”******

That same month, the FDA released the results of a physician survey that suggested training on the da Vinci robot might be an issue that is affecting patient safety. Despite their overall positive view of the device, the 11 respondents to the survey indicated that there exists a lack of consistent training methods, and that the da Vinci is difficult to master.

According to a regulatory filing issued by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. in October 2013, at least 50 da Vinci lawsuits have been filed on behalf of individuals who allegedly suffered serious robotic surgery complications due to the da Vinci Surgical System. These lawsuits claim that patient injuries were the result of defects in the device, and/or a lack of adequate training methods on the part of Intuitive, the company said.*******

Individuals who suffered surgical burns, torn blood vessels, organ perforation, or other serious complications allegedly due to the da Vinci Surgical System may be entitled to compensation for damages associated with their injuries. Learn more about filing a da Vinci robot lawsuit at Bernstein Liebhard LLP’s website. For a free, no-obligation case review, please call 800-511-5092.

*investor.intuitivesurgical.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=122359&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1889430&highlight= ; Intuitive Surgical, Inc.. January 9, 2014
**online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/end.2013.0534, Journal of Endourology, December 2013
***jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1653522; JAMA, February 20, 2013
****onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jhq.12036/abstract, Journal of Healthcare Quality, August 27, 2013
*****bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-09/no-safety-benefit-found-in-use-of-robot-for-hysterectomy.html, Bloomberg.com, September 9, 2013
******bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-08/intuitive-surgical-robot-incident-reports-double-in-year.html,
Bloomberg.com, November 9, 2012
********sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035267/000103526713000040/isrg-2013930x10q.htm, Intuitive Surgical SEC Filing, October 18, 2013

About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993, including those who have been harmed by dangerous drugs, defective medical devices and consumer products. The firm has been named by The National Law Journal to the “Plaintiffs’ Hot List,” recognizing the top plaintiffs’ firms in the country, for the past 11 consecutive years.

Bernstein Liebhard LLP
10 East 40th Street
New York, New York 10016
800-511-5092

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2014 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, 800-511-5092. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:
Felecia L. Stern, Esq.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
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http://www.davincirobotlawsuithelp.com/
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