I've decided to write my letter to the editor about the following article in the startribune
www.startribune.com/lifstyle/health
This article talks about the dramatic increase in robot usage for surgeries, specificly for prostate cancer surgeries. The author suggests that too little is known about robots effectiveness to reach a verdict. Despite this no research is being done.
This article brings up a number of good points about a relatively unknown technology, surgical robots. I find the additional cost intriguing, and it raise several important questions. What is the significance of this amout, given that the total cost of the surgery and hospital stay could have six figure costs. Also, what stance are insurance companies taking? Will any providers pay for surgeries done by robots, or will the patient have to pay the difference out of pocket? I would also not find it surprising if using robots voids any coverage the patient may have, since there is so little data on the results. Despite all this, people still went with the robot almost 90% of the time. I think people are comforted by advanced technology, regardless of how effective it may be. This could lead to real danger if people don't know the facts, both fiscally and medicly.
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Robot-assisted cancer surgery is the latest treatment on prostate cancer. Many are noe demanding this surgery. It is becoming very famous , but it is still not clear whether its results are better, inferior or similar. Patients should not assume that new technology is always better, one sholud first know pros and cons on it. For more information on it, refer Latest treatment on prostate cancer
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