Robotic surgery is turning out to be an expensive fad

SURGERY performed with the help of a robot has been billed as the next revolution in healthcare: such procedures can be carried out through an incision the width of a finger, causing less scarring and often allowing people to return to their homes more quickly. The UK's National Health Service recently announced plans to spend £50 million on more robotic surgical equipment for operating theatres, and yet the benefits of this high-tech approach are debated.