Robotic Surgery Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Robotic Surgery - Research Paper Example There are legal, political and ethical issues associated with the procedure. Robotic surgery is the best invention there is in medicine but the controversies have raised concerns about this technology and addressing them could better automated and efficient surgeries used robots. Description Robotic surgery uses an automated system that has three systems; the console which the surgeons use to control the system, four arms that are controlled by the console and can be manipulated to do practically any task and a high definition visual system for providing real time images of the parts being operated on. Three of the arms are fitted with surgical instrument while the fourth arm is used to control the camera which guides the surgeons on the parts to be operated on. Advantages of the robotic surgery Doctors are able to operate many clients using robotic surgery. Since they are involved indirectly, they do not get as tired as compared to manual operations. Patients on the other hand benef it as the procedure does not take long using the robots for surgery. This saves time for the patient and the doctor. Time saved by the robotic surgery procedure is saving hospitals as much as thirty percent of their budget on surgery. Money saved can be directed to other projects within the hospitals. The robots are quite precise and the incisions required when using them are usually small compared to a normal surgery. This makes the healing process faster for the patients. They do not have to stay in the hospitals for long time thereby saving money as well (Beck, 2013, para. 5). Controversies Despite the advantages that come with robotic surgery, there are many issues that have been raised regarding the use of these machines. They include the safety of the use of the robots, the risks associated with their use, the functioning of the robots and the regulatory framework on the same. These issues have spurred a never ending debate and threaten the use of these systems and are categor ized into several (Mavroforou, Michalodimitrakis, Hatzitheofilou, and Giannoukas, 2010, p.77). Political issues Regulation The use of robots in surgery is not regulated by any institution. Although they have been given the green light by the relevant government institutions, there needs to be a body that regulates their use, evaluates the advantages, the disadvantages, issues raised and any suggestions. Lack of regulation in this field has led to a lot of issues relating to the use of the system. One, there are many injuries and deaths that are associated with the use of robots in surgery in the last few years. In fact, the number has been increasing year after year. If there was a regulatory body, the issues leading to death would have been addressed and less injuries and deaths would be reported. This fact has made some politicians to step up and propose the regulation of the use of robots in surgical procedures. Senator Dick Moore from Massachusetts proposed that there should be a new policy and law to regulate the use of robots in surgery in Massachusetts. Moore is conversant with policies regulations and costs in the health care industry. Senatorial colleagues across the United States including the minority leader Bruce Tarr appreciate that Moore has enough knowledge on this and fully support him. Moore is credited to the enactment of the 2006 universal health care legislation which was a key part in the Obamacare health reforms in 2009.