Wu, Jie Ying; Varnado, Sydney; Leon, Ashley; Carlson, Camella J.; Langerman, Alexander J.; Novak, Laurie L.; Houston, Michelle L.; Feurer, Irene D.; Gordon, Elisa J. (2026). . Surgical Endoscopy.
Artificial intelligence is allowing surgical robots to perform some tasks with limited direct control from surgeons. However, patients鈥� willingness to undergo surgery involving semi-autonomous robots may influence how widely these technologies are adopted. This study explored patients鈥� views about the ethical concerns surrounding semi-autonomous robot-assisted surgery and how these concerns affect their willingness to undergo such procedures. Researchers interviewed 50 adults who had undergone surgery within the previous three years, either without a robot or with a robot that was not autonomous. Overall, 56% said they would be willing to undergo semi-autonomous robot-assisted surgery, although willingness depended on which parts of the procedure the robot controlled. Four main factors shaped participants鈥� views: having enough information to make an informed decision, concerns about new risks introduced by robotic autonomy, trust and the relationship between patients and surgeons, and the potential benefits of robotic technology. Patients also considered the balance of control between the surgeon and robot important. These findings suggest that many patients may be open to semi-autonomous robot-assisted surgery, but acceptance depends on clear informed consent, confidence in safety, trust in surgeons, and understanding the technology鈥檚 potential benefits.
Fig 2 . Percent of participants by their willingness to undergo semi-autonomous robot-assisted surgery and by the type of control the robot would have over the different types of surgical processes