Robotic Hysterectomy Complications Lead to New da Vinci Robot Lawsuit

It might seem like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie, but robotic surgery is a very real and relatively common thing. However, Intuitive Surgical Inc., one of the leading providers of robots used to perform robotic hysterectomy surgery, is facing a growing number of da Vinci robot lawsuits as people come forward to say the robot is faulty and led them to suffer unnecessary and preventable hysterectomy complications.

Plaintiff Audrey Greer filed her da Vinci robot lawsuit on Dec. 20, 2013. She alleges that after undergoing a da Vinci hysterectomy, she suffered a number of scary hysterectomy complications including “vaginal cuff dehiscence, blood clots, severe bleeding, and subsequent infections that caused severe and permanent injuries, serious physical and mental pain and suffering, medical, hospital and surgical expenses, lost wages, and the impairment to earn money.”

In October 2013, Intuitive Surgical was already facing more than 50 claims about robotic hysterectomy complications. The most common da Vinci robot complications include cuts or nicks to organs or arteries, the need for revision surgery to fix the damage, serious bowel injuries, punctured/cut uterus, sepsis, severe bleeding, loss of bodily functions, vaginal cuff dehiscence (which is the re-opening of an incision that was made to remove the cervix and uterus during a hysterectomy) and even wrongful death.

Da Vinci has actually been on the market for well over a decade. “In or about 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the da Vinci Surgical System for use in urological surgical procedures, general laparoscopic surgical procedures, gynecologic laparoscopic surgical procedures, including hysterectomies, transoral otolaryngology surgical procedures, general thoracoscopic surgical procedures and thoracoscopically assisted cardiotomy,” the da Vinci robot lawsuit says.

Greer claims that Intuitive Surgical knew about the risk of da Vinci hysterectomy complications before she underwent her procedure.

“Prior to September 2, 2011, Defendant INTUITIVE was aware that patients had sustained thermal burns and other injuries during the use of the da Vinci Surgical System and its instrumentation,” Greer alleges in her da Vinci robot da Vinci robot lawsuit.

“On October 7, 2011, the FDA responded to Defendant INTUITIVE’s Special 510(k) Device Modification for the Monopolar Curved Scissors Tip Cover Accessory and permitted Defendant INTUITIVE to market the device. In October 2011, as a response to complaints and medical device reports for arching through damaged tip covers that caused patient injuries, Defendant INTUITIVE initiated a field correction by sending letter to da Vinci Surgical System clients with suggestions and recommendation for the proper use of the Tip Cover Accessory and for the correct generators that should be used with monopolar instruments.”

According to the da Vinci hysterectomy lawsuit, there were more than 4,600 adverse events reported to the FDA as of January 2013.

da Vinci Hysterectomy Surgery Gone Wrong

A hysterectomy can be an overwhelming experience for any woman, even when it goes flawlessly. However, Greer “continues to suffer from chronic and severe abdominal pain and suffering. Through this time period Audrey Greer has been unable to maintain normal relationships and responsibilities and she has suffered emotional distress. Due to her injuries sustained during the da Vinci robotic hysterectomy, Plaintiff Audrey Greer had to have multiple painful additional medical tests and procedures and physician consultations and additional surgery and has suffered pain, loss of function, emotional distress and permanent injury and will be suffering further substantial medical treatment, lost wages and an impairment and the power to earn money.”

Greer says the company was “well aware” of the da Vinci hazards well before her surgery.

“The use of Defendant INTUITIVE’s robotic device in surgery presents substantial risks of complications and injuries, including, but not limited to, de-vascularzation of the vaginal cuff impeding healing, tears, bleeding, clots, and otherwise,” the robot surgery lawsuit says. “More specifically, Defendant INTUITIVE’s robotic device can cause damage to the bowel, rectum, blood vessels, arteries, ureters, bladder and vaginal cuff. On occasion these complications and injuries cause and/or contribute to infectious processes from thermal injury causing abscess formation and can lead to excessive pain, suffering and permanent emotional and physical disability.”

Greer claims that “Defendant INTUITIVE did not provide adequate warnings to physicians and patients about the risks and complications associated with the use of its robotic device.”

The da Vinci robot lawsuit is Audrey Greer v. Intuitive Surgical Inc., Case No.: 4:13-cv-00135-JHM-HBB, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Louisville Division.

Were You Hurt by a da Vinci Surgery?

If you or someone you love was hurt during a procedure that involved a da Vinci system, you might have a robotic surgery legal claim. Read more at the Da Vinci Robot Surgery Class Action Lawsuit & Robotic Surgery Lawsuit Investigation right now. Once your information is submitted, a lawyer will contact you if you qualify for a complimentary da Vinci robot lawsuit claim review.