News in robotic urology: Improving communication in the OR but also operating long-distance
From the audience, Mr. Alastair Lamb (GB) pointed out an interesting contrast in the discussion during the “Future of robotic surgery” Thematic Session on Day 3 of EAU26.
On the one hand, some speakers were espousing the advantages of open surgical consoles: for surgeon ergonomics, but also in improving communication and workflow with the team, and better awareness of the OR. On the other hand, the audience was also shown cases of surgeons performing on patients in ORs that are separated by thousands of kilometers in discussions of telesurgery.
Mr. Lamb asked the panel: “How can we reconcile this cognitive dissonance?” A clear answer is missing but the future of robotic surgery is clearly rapidly approaching.
Making AI work for you
Mr. Bertie Leigh (GB), veteran speaker at EAU Congresses and a consultant healthcare solicitor presented his optimistic take on AI in surgery. Instead of technology further depersonalising the doctor-patient relationship, well-implemented AI technology could in fact mark a return to a more personal one-on-one relationship between doctor and patient.
“Certainly the question of data protection is a difficult one,” Mr. Leigh opined. “How much of patient-specific data is getting into AI models? Who knows. There are all sorts of restrictions against this.”
“On the other hand, the days when doctors were held personally liable are surely limited. See for instance EU AI laws: the rules apply to those who build AI models and robots, those who import and deploy them. Individual doctors have little to fear in that area.”
“While it’s premature to say that the multidisciplinary team is dead, it is becoming indefensible, that so many specialists are coming together to treat one patient. AI can counsel the individual surgeon, effectively reinstating the historic one doctor, one patient relationship.”
“Make the black box work for you!” Mr. Leigh urged. “When computers were introduced into medical practice, in a way it transformed doctors into glorified data inputters. A screen was the third person in the room. AI can work for your, assisting you in a way that helps you focus your attention on the patient again.”
But Mr. Leigh warned: “Be very aware, with the rate at which AI is becoming more capable, any advice I give now can be obsolete next week.”