A Florida woman tragically lost her life after a surgical robot allegedly burned a hole in her intestine during a routine operation. The incident has sparked a federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by her grieving husband, Harvey Sultzer, who seeks justice for his late wife, Sandra Sultzer.
The lawsuit, filed on February 6, alleges that Sandra suffered severe health complications following a da Vinci surgical robot procedure at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital. The da Vinci robot, a widely used multi-armed, remote-controlled device manufactured by ISI, was employed during the surgery.
Sandra’s procedure, aimed at treating her colon cancer, involved the use of the da Vinci robot’s advanced electrosurgical instruments, known as “EndoWrist,” which mimic a surgeon’s hand movements in real time. Tragically, it was during this operation that Sandra sustained a thermal injury to her small intestine, leading to perforation and necessitating further medical intervention. Despite undergoing additional procedures to address the injury she sustained in 2021, Sandra’s condition deteriorated rapidly. She experienced excruciating abdominal pain and developed a persistent fever. Ultimately, Sandra succumbed to her injuries in February 2022, leaving her family devastated and seeking answers.