From:	Jeremiah Stevens <jeremiah@********.EDU>
Subject:	Re: Surgeons as Riggers?
Date:	Tue, 5 May 1998 13:47:09 -0400

> The cost of the operation was about A$1,000,000, although it is
> thought this will become a lot cheaper once all of the hardware is in
> place. It is thought it could be a viable solution for remote areas,
> such as the Australia outback, where residents rely on things like the
> Royal Flying Doctor Service, which costs many millions of dollars per
> year.

I would think that this sort of procedure would be the most useful for the
military, and that is where it would most likely be developed. (I know the
US Military is currently doing research in just this sort of thing).

Overall, the use of remote surgery would be the best in situations where a
doctor cannot be brought to the patient or patient to doctor. Thus, I
could see a platoon being equipped with a mobile surgery station which
would be operated by a rigger/surgeon in the rear echelons. Further,
depending on how advanced this technology has become, I could see
ambulances being equiped with a sugical station operated remotely and
outpatient clinics which can provide low-cost surgery performed by
remotes. I could even see drones using modified IVIS systems to work
together independently of the surgeon, thus allowing a single surgeon to
monitor a number of operations at one time, only popping into a drone if
something goes wrong.