Search Results for "robotic surgery"
New questions about the $3B/year robotic surgery business
When Intuitive Surgical, manufacturer of the DaVinci robotic surgery system, last month reported that it had exceeded revenue and earnings expectations for the quarter, the company CEO said, “We’re neither satisfied nor comfortable.” But, clearly, neither are some observers in medicine satisfied or comfortable about the technology’s explosive growth. This is the final sentence of […]
9
Local news hype of robotic surgery doesn’t match many hysterectomy patients’ experiences
Many journalists seem enthralled with robotic surgery systems. For local journalists — especially local TV journalists — the video of the robotic arms and the surgeon using the hand controls from a distance away from the patient seems all too exciting. In Secaucus, New Jersey, it’s news when a hospital simply acquires a surgical robot. The […]
1
Step right up and be the first in your region to get robotic surgery for ___?___
This is an addendum to Trudy Lieberman’s blog post about surgical robot news release puffery…and about questionable claims of robotic surgery “firsts” as robot owners launch marketing and public relations efforts. I’ve been saving a little sample of robot owner’s claims about their expensive investments, and have posted some of them below. As you look […]
11/24/2014A look at robotic surgery proliferation in Denmark
Frederik Joelving, who once did outstanding work for ReutersHealth in the U.S., recently published a piece on robotic surgery in Politiken, a major newspaper in Denmark. A rough translation of the way the article concluded: “It may be difficult to reverse (the proliferation trend) if the large randomized trials that other countries are doing should […]
8/23/2014Robotic surgery company objects to tough journalism; objections & responses posted
Men’s Health magazine deserves credit not only for its tough story, “What’s Wrong with Robotic Surgery?” by an excellent journalist, Laura Beil, earlier this year. But when Intuitive Surgical, manufacturer of the DaVinci robotic surgical system, objected to the piece, Men’s Health posted a point-by-point response to the objections. A double dose of good journalism, […]
7/30/2014Sit back & watch urologists go at it over robotic surgery claims
I’m on vacation this week but I enjoyed sitting back and watching a urology kerfuffle over claims about a robotic surgery study and associated news release. Here’s what the American Urological Association (AUA) tweeted earlier today. The Twitter responses are from a Pittsburgh urologist whose Twitter handle is @daviesbj. There’s a lot going on here, […]
6/13/2014Robotic surgery news & marketing – misrepresentation of evidence
“Under the glare of an operating theatre lamp….” Here it comes: another drooling, fawning news story about robotic surgery – this time from The Guardian in the UK under the headline, “Newcastle hospital’s £2m robot transforms medical operations.” It was surprising to see how unquestioning the story was. The subheadline: “Dexterity of Da Vinci robot […]
Robotic surgery roundup: great small paper journalism, new marketing/ad campaigns
Since I think it’s a safe bet that not many of you regularly read The Bulletin newspaper of Bend, Oregon, I suggest you read a two-part series by Markian Hawryluk as just one indication of the difference one individual can make, no matter the size of the news organization. In part one, “Robot surgery is […]
2/5/2014Cancer fundraiser toys with truth in using robotic surgery to get donations
Canadians may have thought they had been transported south of the border, where robotic surgery is widely and wildly promoted all the time. But this week, for World Cancer Day, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation posted this fundraising plea: The website explains: “Give 6 patients the best surgery while changing cancer care internationally with your […]
12/6/2013Robotic surgery recall prompts “dear reporter” message from ex-hospital CEO
Paul Levy, former medical center CEO, blogs, “Dear health care reporters: Look this way.” He points to Bloomberg’s continued coverage of questions about robotic surgery systems, including this week’s news about “an urgent recall” because of systems stalling during operations. And his note to reporters: “…the recall affects 1,386 of the systems worldwide. You’d think […]
2 10/8/2013Bloomberg continues bulldog reporting on robotic surgery risks
See Robert Langreth’s piece, “Robot Surgery Damaging Patients Rises With Marketing.” Langreth reflects on a familiar tale: Promotions that emphasize benefits, minimize or ignore harms “another breakthrough in robotic surgery” “Star Wars” comparisons Excerpt from the story: “Robotic surgeries are on the rise, fueled by aggressive marketing by doctors, hospitals and Intuitive Surgical Inc. (ISRG), […]
9/10/2013Roundup of robotic surgery news – colorectal, endometrial, hysterectomy
As we’ve previously noted, with the explosive proliferation of robotic surgery systems in the US, it requires almost fulltime attention on a fulltime beat in order to stay on top of what is published about robotics. I can’t devote that kind of fulltime attention. But from time to time, I post research results that catch […]
2 9/4/2013Unaccountable health care…underreporting of robotic surgery problems
A paper published online first by the Journal of Healthcare Quality, “Underreporting of Robotic Surgery Complications,” raises questions about how accurate a safety picture is publicly available. The paper is authored by Dr. Marty Makary of Johns Hopkins and two colleagues. Makary is a frequent critic of the proliferation of robotic surgery systems. I found […]
8/22/2013Medscape asks: “Robotic Surgery: Too Much, Too Soon?”
On Medscape, an editor and a surgeon published a slide show series entitled “Robotic Surgery: Too Much, Too Soon?” (You need to register in order to see it). Some excerpts: Is Insufficient Training a Serious Problem With Robotic Surgery? Intuitive Surgical is currently facing various lawsuits involving improperly trained surgeons. In a Medscape interview, J. […]
3 7/19/2013FDA warning letter to robotic surgery manufacturer, which complains of “negative press”
Bloomberg News reports: “Intuitive Surgical Inc. (ISRG), the maker of robotic surgical devices, fell in extended trading after it disclosed a Food and Drug Administration warning letter and reduced its sales forecast. The company received the warning letter July 17, Chief Executive Officer Gary Guthart said during a conference call with analysts to discuss quarterly […]
