Texas Lawsuit Alleges da Vinci Robot Surgery Complications

A Texas couple filed a lawsuit against Intuitive Surgical, the makers of the da Vinci Surgical System alleging the surgical system caused the husband to develop serious complications after a surgical procedure.

The da Vinci Surgical System is a set of robotic arms designed for use in laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is a form of surgery in which surgeons use tiny cameras and specialized equipment to perform most of the operation inside the patient’s body using relatively small incisions. Laparoscopic surgery often boasts shorter recovery times than traditional surgery. However, it has been alleged that the da Vinci System is more dangerous than regular laparoscopic surgery.

The da Vinci robot lawsuit filed by David Garlich and his wife Lorie alleges that issues with the da Vinci System caused David Garlich to suffer serious complications. In November 2012, he had a prostatectomy (the removal of the prostate) to treat his prostate cancer. Per the lawsuit, the procedure was performed by a surgeon trained in the use of the da Vinci System. After his surgery, internal injuries became infected, requiring additional surgeries to correct. However, the damage from the various infection was allegedly systemic, causing health problems beyond the site of the infection, including cogitative difficulties. The Garlichs’ lawsuit asserts that the da Vinci System caused these complications.

To support this allegation, the da Vinci robot lawsuit cites an Urgent Medical Device Notification that certain components of the device could leak current, causing damage to patients’ organs through electrical and thermal burns.

The Garlichs’ lawsuit is among many filed against Intuitive over alleged complications associated with these devices. The litigation may take the form of a multidistrict litigation or MDL. An MDL is a type of group lawsuit, similar to a class action lawsuit. The main difference is that in a da Vinci robot class action lawsuit, a group of people come together to file a single lawsuit against the same defendant. But in an MDL, the lawsuits are filed separately, typically across various courts, and are later consolidated. Because of this, in a da Vinci robot class action lawsuit, the allegedly-injured parties are typically represented by a single lawyer or team of lawyers, while everyone in an MDL has their own legal council. Both class action lawsuits and MDLs save time and money by consolidating individual claims into a single proceeding.

The case is formally titled David Garlich et al v. Intuitive Surgery Incorporated, Case No. 3:13-cv-03419-G, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.

Join a da Vinci Robot Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one suffered from serious complications after having surgery with the da Vinci system, you’ve almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. The types of complications allegedly linked to the da Vinci system are potentially-traumatic medical emergencies. This kind of situation goes hand-in-hand with financial burdens as well, including medical bills, lost wages, and even final expenses.

But you need to remember that regardless of the challenges you are facing, you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Da Vinci Robot Surgery Class Action Lawsuit & Robotic Surgery Lawsuit Investigation. Here, you can enter information about your situation for a legal review with a lawyer with a background in this type of class action lawsuit. The initial consultation is completely free of charge and, from it, you can receive additional guidance on the next steps to take in your exact situation.