MD4Bernie t1_ir2ylrh wrote
Reply to comment by [deleted] in Humans operating on humans are still better than robots operating on humans...even when a human is operating the robot. by Notreallyonreddityet
Sorry, your notion that the robotic prostatectomy is better than a regular prostatectomy is about 15 years out-of-date.
Yes, they tried to make "function-sparing prostatectomy" the killer app for the insanely expensive operating robot. (And to be clear, the "function" we are talking about is potency, the man's ability to maintain an erection after surgery.) Maintaining potency is, of course, and admirable goal.
Problem is that maintaining potency also ended up maintaining the cancer cells. Yes, a higher percentage of "targeted resection" patients maintained their potency; but they also still had cancer.
The da Vinci is a dangerous, expensive cure in search of a disease. It makes bad surgeons even worse. Excellent surgeons rarely (if ever) need a gee-whiz marketing angle to prove to patients that they are up-to-date on all the expensive gizmos.
brickmaster32000 t1_ir5baq4 wrote
>Excellent surgeons rarely (if ever) need a gee-whiz marketing angle to wash their hands to prove to patients that they are up-to-date on all the expensive gizmos. are cleanly.
That is what your rant reminds me off. Treating surgeons as if they are perfect and shouldn't be asked to use tools that can help them do their jobs better.
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