Jury rejects claim in robotic surgery lawsuit
May 23, 2013, 2:00 PM | Updated: 2:17 pm
A jury in Port Orchard has ruled in favor of the maker of a surgical robot in a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
The family of Fred Taylor claimed Intuitive Surgical was negligent in the training of the doctor involved in the 2008 surgery that went bad. The operation, at Harrison Hospital in Silverdale, to remove Taylor’s prostate used the da Vinci robotic surgical system.
The retiree suffered multiple complications during and after the 14-hour surgery. Taylor died in 2012.
Taylor’s family claimed the company’s warnings and the surgeon’s training in the use of the da Vinci system were inadequate, but the 12-person jury found no negligence and rejected a claim for more than $8 million.
The family previously settled with the hospital and the surgeon, who is still practicing but not using the robotic system.
The da Vinci uses 3-D cameras and magnified, high-definition displays to allow a surgeon to use foot pedal and hand controls to maneuver surgical tools attached to robotic arms.
Nationwide, attorneys estimate that patients have filed 2,000 claims involving the da Vinci surgical machine but this case was believed to be the first to go to trial.
