I, Robotic Surgeon

Abstract

his famous novel, I, Robot His laws were intended for human interactions with fictional autonomous robots. We can apply the laws to our understanding of the current surgeon interface with robotic surgical systems if we acknowledge that the autonomy resides in the surgeon. The new technology gets the attention, but robotic surgery still remains a human endeavor of medical practice and should be subject to the same principles of medical education and ethics as any other method of surgery. In this paper, we will apply the concepts of the Three Laws to explore ethical questions surrounding the education of resident physicians in robotic surgery, appropriate responses of trainees to robot system failures, and the financial conflicts of interest facing residents who become robotic surgeons.