Intuitive Fights Da Vinci Surgical Robot Monopoly Claims

Intuitive Surgical is facing multiple antitrust suits that say the company took advantage of its dominant market position by demanding hospitals come to it for expensive repairs and replacements.

Medium shot of an Italian-language Monopoly board game.
• Source: Alamy

At least four health care organizations have filed antitrust lawsuits against Intuitive Surgical, Inc., saying the company’s exclusive hold on parts and maintenance contracts for its da Vinci surgical robots constitutes an illegal monopoly. But the company says one of the most shocking allegations is false.

A proposed class-action suit filed by Indiana-based Franciscan Alliance and Washington State’s Valley Medical Center says an Intuitive employee threatened to remotely shut down da Vinci systems owned by Hillcrest...

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