The Robot…Good or bad, which is it?
Posted By: Craig Stevens 
Date Posted: February 14th, 2010 Category: Being a Patient
Robotic assisted surgery for prostate cancer was supposed to be a life saving or at least a quality-of-life saving advance. Now we’re hearing it might not be. This type of back and forth argument among people who are supposed to know is frustrating and scary. Yet it seems it happens all the time…at our expense. I mean we’re even debating mammograms these days. It really is frustrating and absolutely affects lives. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR REAL PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS ON THIS. Especially if you’ve had an experience with it. By the way here’s a link to the latest…hope it works. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/health/14robot.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Comment By: Rebecca Morrow
Date & Time: February 17, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Craig,
I may not be able to give you any personal data comparing the two, but after reading the article, I think I see what the trend is. so many people these days are ready to jump at just about anything new – new clothes, new cologne, new fads, new diets, new fashion… whatever it is that is new. Especially when it comes to technology. TV's are a great comparison. They get newer, better, smaller, slimmer, prettier, offer better viewing and are more vibrant.
I think the disconnect here, though, is that even though many of our electronics (computers, laptops, TVs, cars… etc) get better with every year and new technologies come out, we feel that this is the same for all technology.
It's really not so true. The batteries in hybrid cars are expensive and still have not shown that they are totally reliable. Granted, our computers and TVs are getting better, but not all technology is the "latest and greatest."
So, the disconnect here is that people think that all new technology is great and wonderful and remove any great possible human error. Yet, as we have seen over the years, new technology needs time to grow and mature. Many of us forget that and forgo the notions that maybe human hands might be better right now.
From the article, it still seems that you have a choice in the matter… robotic or not. And humans can do laproscopic surgery, too. I think that this discussion could help a lot of people weigh the matters for robotic surgery and what is right for them.
Thanks for such a great idea!
Comment By: Kris Lagreca
Date & Time: February 17, 2010 at 5:31 pm
It seems like consumers are driving the technology, instead of research. This might not be the most ideal situation.