Analysis of Technical Risks and Ethical Lapses in the Da Vinci Surgical Robot

This study integrates 59098 adverse event reports (2005-2024) and 4060 Reddit doctor-patient comments to analyze the evolving risk landscape. Findings indicate a significant surge in adverse events during early system iterations, with heightened risks in precision surgeries such as otolaryngology. Technical risks manifest in ethical crises including the deprivation of informed consent, data privacy breaches, responsibility evasion, and breakdowns in doctor–patient relationships. Institutional lag exacerbates these risks, as technical flaws are amplified through regulatory loopholes and accountability drift, evolving into systemic challenges. Public perception has shifted from initial skepticism to more rational understanding, while doctors and patients exhibit cognitive dissonance—doctors recognize efficiency gains, whereas patients express concerns over diminished humanistic care. In response, this study proposes a transparency-oriented governance pathway to balance technological innovation with ethical safeguards and enhance the ethical and institutional responsiveness to surgical robot technologies.