So some engineers at Duke University have developed a robot capable of performing simple surgical procedures completely on its own. Obviously this an incredible creation that pushes the envelope of modern medicine, but, for me, it begs the question of even though we can use robots to perform surgeries, should we?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for using robotics to help make people’s lives easier, but there’s something about removing the human element from medicine that just seems… wrong. Yes, a robot could (in theory) be far more precise and accurate in performing the procedures, but there’s no telling how it would handle the situation should something go awry. I don’t know, maybe it’s just that any time I hear about automated medical care all I can think of is Roujin Z.

My own hyperactive imagination aside, it will be quite exciting to see what kind of advances this helps bring about.

Mad Medicine (via io9)

By Stewart Smith