A Report on Ethical Issues Surrounding Robotic Surgery Procedures

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the ethical issues surrounding robotic surgery. It begins by introducing the advancements in medical technology, specifically focusing on robotic surgery and its advantages over traditional methods. The report then delves into a detailed examination of the ethical implications, evaluating the issues through the lens of classical ethical theories, including utilitarianism, deontology, contract theory, and virtue ethics. The analysis explores the benefits such as fewer complications, precise surgery, and quicker recovery times, while also addressing potential drawbacks like the inability of robots to make vital decisions and the risk of mechanical failures or human error. The report concludes by summarizing the ethical landscape and offering recommendations for responsible implementation of robotic surgical procedures. Ultimately, the report suggests that while there are ethical considerations, the benefits of robotic surgery outweigh the risks, making it ethically sound with proper precautions.

Running head: ETHICAL ISSUES WITH ROBOTIC SURGERY
Ethical Issues with Robotic Surgery
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ETHICAL ISSUES WITH ROBOTIC SURGERY
Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Analysis of the Ethical Issues:.........................................................................................................2
Utilitarianism:..............................................................................................................................2
Deontology:.................................................................................................................................3
Contract:......................................................................................................................................4
Virtue:..........................................................................................................................................5
Argument Visualization:..................................................................................................................6
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................6
Recommendation:............................................................................................................................6
References:......................................................................................................................................8

2ETHICAL ISSUES WITH ROBOTIC SURGERY
Introduction:
In present time, medical science and healthcare services has been advanced quite further.
Various of new technologies has been introduced in this field which has simplified the overall
process of treatment of a patient (Goldenberg, Goldenberg & Grantcharov, 2017). Within the
field of medical science surgery one of the important aspect is the surgery which is important in
many cases to save the life of patients. The surgical section has been also improved in this aspect
as robotic surgery has been introduced.
The robotic surgery is a typical type of surgical procedure in which surgery is done using
some robotic system. The main aim of introducing the robotic surgery is overcome the
limitations of minimally invasive procedures of surgery and enhancing the overall open surgery
procedures (Adili et al., 2017). The robotic surgery is can improve the overall process of surgery
but there are several of ethical issues are related with the robotic surgery procedures. In this
report these ethical issues related with the robotic surgery will be evaluated briefly.
Analysis of the Ethical Issues:
It has been assessed that there are several of benefits are associated with the robotics
surgery which helps to simplify the overall process of surgery and also improves the surgical
process. Though the robotic surgical process is consisting several of benefits, there are several of
ethical issues related with this type of surgical procedures. In the following section these ethical
issues are analysed using the classical ethical theories.
Utilitarianism:
The utilitarianism is a typical ethical theory. This ethical theory determines right from
wrong by remained focused on the outcomes (Mill, 2016). The utilitarianism is actually a form

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of consequentialism. The current ethical issues related with the robotic surgery can be analysed
using the utilitarianism. One of the important argument in this case was less complication during
the surgery. While analysing this argument with utilitarianism it is assessed that fewer
complication is better for both the patients and surgeons. So, it can be expressed that there is no
ethical issues is related in this case. Another argument in this case was precise surgery. Precise
type of surgery is very much important for saving the life of the patients. As precise surgery is
achieved in this case that is beneficial for the patients. So, there should be no ethical issues in
this case. Also, there will be less blood loss by using the robotic surgery and that is beneficial for
the patients. Thus, this is also does not have any type of ethical issues in this case. By using the
robotic surgery there will be a quicker recovery for the patients. This is also beneficial for the
patients. As this is beneficial for the patients from utilitarianism point of view this is ethically
right. Also, overall there will be less scars in the skin of the patients. Thus, no ethical issues is
present in this case.
There is another logic is present which argues that robotic surgery systems are unable to
take vital decisions by their own. In many cases this can lead to life threating situation for the
patients. Thus, it is not having any type of benefit point which defines that robotic surgery is
ethically incorrect. Also, the robotic system comprises various of mechanical parts which can fail
at any point and also human errors can be there during operating the robot system for surgery.
Thus, there are no point of benefit which defines it as unethical.
Deontology:
The deontology is a normative ethical theory. The deontology defines that morality of the
action should be based on the whether the action is right or wrong under some specific rules
rather than consequences generated from the action (Mandal, Ponnambath & Parija, 2016). In

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this case, there are fewer complication by using robotic surgery which is achieved by minimal
invasive surgery procedures. There is no issues regarding the minimal invasive surgery. So, it is
completely ethical in this case. For the precise surgery mechanical arms will be used and there is
no issues. In this case also, it is completely ethical. Less blood loss will be there by performing a
precise surgery. Thus, it is also completely ethical in this case. Again, there will be quicker
recovery for the patients as more precise structure handling and better optics will be there. As
there is no issues regarding using better optics and better structure handling utilization of robot
surgeons is ethical in this context.
The robot surgeons cannot take important decisions by their own due to lack of
intelligence. Thus, from this perspective use of robot surgeons is unethical. It is also possible that
the robotic system fails at the time of operation as mechanical parts are used in this case. For this
reason, using robots for operation is unethical. Also, human errors is present there while using
the robotic system for operations. Thus, it is again unethical in this context.
Contract:
The ethical theory of contract defines that there are some contracts established by the
society and these contracts are protected and should be provided a high priority. In this aspect
achieving fewer complication will not violate the contract (Fisher, 2018). So, it is completely
ethical in this context. Also, by the use of robot surgeons for the surgery precise surgery will be
achieved, there will be less pain and blood loss for the patients, the patients will also achieve
quicker recovery and there will less scars due to the surgery. All of these does not violates any of
the contracts of the society. So using of robotic surgeons is ethical from these perspective.
Also, there are issue such as failing to take vital decisions, mechanical failure of the robot
and human error during using the robot surgeon. All of these factors can take the life of patient

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towards a dangerous situation which is not at all acceptable at all within society. Thus, from this
perspective using robotic surgeon is unethical.
Virtue:
The virtue ethics is the normative ethical theory. It emphasizes virtue of mind, sense of
honesty and character. The virtue ethics is actually focused on the consequences of action (Prior,
2016).
There are various of arguments which are related with utilization of robot surgeons.
There includes, fewer surgery complications, precise surgery, less pain and blood during surgery,
quicker recovery for the patients and very less surgical scars. Consequences of all of these
actions are positive. Thus, in this case using of robot surgeons is ethical.
The robot surgeons can take the life of the patients to a dangerous situation due to failure
of mechanical systems, human errors and failing to take vital decisions. Consequences of these
are actually negative. So, from this perspective robot surgeons are actually unethical.
In an overall context the robot surgeons are still beneficial. Thus, the use of robot
surgeons are ethical in a broader perspective.

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Argument Visualization:
(Figure 1: Argument Visualization)
(Source: Created by the Author)
Conclusion:
From the above discussion it can be concluded that using of robot surgeons for
performing surgery is completely ethical as this provides various of benefits. In this aspect, the
current topic of robots surgeons has been assessed and also the ethical issues related with
utilization of robot surgeons for performing surgery has been analysed. From this analysis it has
been assessed that there are several of perspective from which using robot surgeons is ethical and
there are several of perspective from which using of robot surgeons is unethical, but in an overall
perspective using of robot surgeons is completely ethical. For the analysis, four classical theories
of ethics has been used which are the utilitarianism, deontology, contract and virtue.
Recommendation:
In this case, some important recommendation is also shared, which are discussed below.

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 The robots should be handled by the highly trained surgeons so avoid any type of errors.
 The robot surgeons should be checked thoroughly before executing the surgery.
 For any type of issues in the robot surgeons it should be stopped immediately and manual
surgery should be started.

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References:
Adili, A. F., Di Giovanni, J., Kolesar, E., Wong, N. C., Hoogenes, J., Dason, S., & Shayegan, B.
(2017). Positive surgical margin rates during the robot-assisted laparoscopic radical
prostatectomy learning curve of an experienced laparoscopic surgeon. Canadian
Urological Association Journal, 11(11), E409.
Fisher, T. (2018). The Architecture of Ethics. Routledge.
Goldenberg, M. G., Goldenberg, L., & Grantcharov, T. P. (2017). Surgeon performance predicts
early continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Journal of
endourology, 31(9), 858-863.
Mandal, J., Ponnambath, D. K., & Parija, S. C. (2016). Utilitarian and deontological ethics in
medicine. Tropical parasitology, 6(1), 5.
Mill, J. S. (2016). Utilitarianism. In Seven masterpieces of philosophy (pp. 337-383). Routledge.
Prior, W. J. (2016). Virtue and knowledge: An Introduction to ancient Greek ethics. Routledge.