Meet McSleepy, the World's First Robot Anesthesiologist - io9 Comments

Meet McSleepy, the World's First Robot Anesthesiologist

t1333 — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:47:20 PDT

So many negative comments! I think this is great place for automation. Our lives are in the hand of machines all the time: elevators, fly by wire planes, etc. Its a boring and routine job, it should be done by a machine.

t1333

Meet McSleepy, the World's First Robot Anesthesiologist

Aethyr — Sun, 04 May 2008 14:48:29 PDT

So basically, if there's a power outage during a surgery...the patient is screwed.

This can't ever replace a human anesthesiologist. While humans may make mistakes, they don't require electricity/batteries to run.

Aethyr

Meet McSleepy, the World's First Robot Anesthesiologist

phoenix — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:08:24 PDT

@Fwiffo: Agreed. I get the McBrick in my stomach afterwards. Not a pleasant feeling.

Yeah - this sounds like a terrible idea, but only because admittedly I fear automation for such a delicate and potentially life-ending process. If the track record turns out better than humans, I can't argue.

phoenix

Meet McSleepy, the World's First Robot Anesthesiologist

RAHfanboy — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:27:05 PDT

I'm holding out for the Psystar clone.

RAHfanboy

Meet McSleepy, the World's First Robot Anesthesiologist

SuhinaNumerius — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:54:41 PDT

"If McSleep kills fewer people than real doctors do there should be no liability at all in the absence of gross negligence from the hospital" erm.... presumably someone is going to have to program the machine prior to each surgery (and load it with drugs, etc). If this is the case then it is not free from human error as the person who sets it up is...human...and, er, prone to error! If they get a doctor to set it up before surgery and programme the thing then it kind of defeats the object of having a machine in the first place. If, on the other hand, they get some underpaid technician prepare the machine... are mistakes not just as likely as a doctor that has years of experience anyway? I think it would be interesting to see how well the machine could cope with events that are not planned for... like spotting the signs of pulmonary embolism or hyperkalaemia for instance... Sam (UK)

SuhinaNumerius

Meet McSleepy, the World's First Robot Anesthesiologist

Gann — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:36:21 PDT

Gives a whole new meaning to blue screen of death.

Gann

Meet McSleepy, the World's First Robot Anesthesiologist

Brock — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:56:09 PDT

If McSleep kills fewer people than real doctors do there should be no liability at all in the absence of gross negligence from the hospital. Too many cases are decided on "What's a perfect result" vs. "What are my alternatives?" You should never discourage people from helping you.

Brock

Meet McSleepy, the World's First Robot Anesthesiologist

DocGratis — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:17:28 PDT

Oh big deal all anesthesiologist do is tape their fingers together in boredom... (inside joke)

I'm pretty sure there are things you would need a human todo..

But still cool anyways..

DocGratis

Meet McSleepy, the World's First Robot Anesthesiologist

Fwiffo — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:08:08 PDT

McSleepy is how I feel after binging on fast food. Then I get McRegret.

As a victim of 'human error' while being anethatised once, I can only welcome tech like this.

Fwiffo

Meet McSleepy, the World's First Robot Anesthesiologist

Log1c — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:52:44 PDT

I always like it when my control systems are closed loop... Especially when they have drugs that could kill you.

Log1c