Robotic surgery: The Sequel?

The first time was such a hit, why not do it again?  I refer, of course, to the marketing ploy used by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. when it introduced robotic surgery in the prostatectomy scene.  Go with direct-to-consumer advertising to give the impression that the results from robotic surgery are better than from manual laparoscopic surgery.  Make sure the early-adopter surgeons are on board and publicly proclaiming their great results.  When it comes to men and the functioning of their penises, you can predict the result.  Who can argue with that kind of success?  The stock market rewarded the company handsomely.But now the market for prostate surgery is saturated, so it's time to move to another type of surgery that raises anxiety, this one for women.  Hysterectomies are the target.  Again, let's use the heartfelt comments of patients to support the cause, while being soft on scientifically valid clinical studies. Further, give the impression that there is extensive use of the machine for hysterectomies by saying, "100% of the top 50 cancer hospitals in the United States use the da Vinci Surgical system."  While true, this statement omits what I surmise to be the actual case, that the vast majority of those machines are used for prostate surgery, not for hysterectomies.Here, though, the professionals have spoken, and the words are not good for the company.  Look at these comments by James T. Breeden, president of ACOG:Many wom...
Source: Running a hospital - Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs