The concerns stem from several incidents during surgery including five deaths.
In one case the Da Vinci clipped a blood vessel leading to the patient’s death.
Another, more bizarre case came when the machine hit a patient in the face and another in which it wouldn’t release tissue it was holding.
The robots took part in over 350,000 surgeries last year and that number is expected to grow if the FDA probe doesn’t throw on the brakes
Reports point out that the Da Vinci may not be to blame in all the cases. The robot is operated by surgeons and there may be times in which the blame falls to the doctor.
The robots cost a budget bulging 1.5 million dollars apiece and are used in 25% of US hospitals.
Medical personnel are not all excited about the use of the machines saying "the rapid adoption of robotic surgery has been done by and large without the proper evaluation."
The makers of the Da Vinci disagree pointing out the rate of incidents and outcomes are "in line with historical trends."
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