After Wisconsin hospitals acquired robotic surgery technology, the number of prostate removals they performed doubled within three months, a new study shows. By contrast, the number of prostate surgeries stayed the same at hospitals that didn’t purchase the new $2-million technology. The increase in such surgeries raises questions about whether more doctors at hospitals with robots are recommending surgery for men with prostate cancer, say the authors, instead of alternative treatments like radiation or “watchful waiting.” “Trying to be ahead of the curve is a human instinct,” said lead author Dr. Joan Neuner of the Medical College of Wisconsin, who noted that new medical technologies are often adopted quickly by hospitals, and demanded by patients.
