Revolution in surgery: Hamburg doctors control operations worldwide!

Revolution in surgery: Hamburg doctors control operations worldwide!

Amid the rapid developments in medical technology, the upcoming specialist congress for robot-assisted urology in Hamburg is eagerly awaited. On November 13th and 14th, 2025, the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce will be the venue for an extraordinary event where experts from medicine, research and industry will come together for an intensive exchange. The event is organized by the German Society for Robot-assisted Urology e.V. (DRUS), under the scientific direction of Prof. Dr. Christian Wülfing, head of urology at the Asklepios Clinic Altona. Braunschweiger Zeitung reports that the topic of the congress will be state-of-the-art tele-robotics.

The highlight of the congress are the live operations that will be carried out in three countries - China, Belgium and Spain. Surgeons in Hamburg will control these procedures via tele-robotics systems, equipped with high-speed data connections and advanced robotic surgical systems. A novelty is the use of Chinese surgical systems, whose functionality is comparable to the well-known Da Vinci robots. While operations are taking place in Beijing, Madrid and Aalst, data transmission via 5G mobile networks will also enable the operations to be broadcast live to the congress hall. This raises exciting questions about the ethical and legal framework of tele-robotics, which are also on the agenda.

Ethical considerations in focus

The discussion about tele-robotics not only involves technical challenges, but also a variety of ethical questions. The most relevant topics are addressed, from responsibility in the event of complications to the quality of training for surgeons. Nature points to the latest findings from an expert conference that highlights both clinical experiences and the current status of remote surgery. For example, the importance of telementoring, which is increasingly coming into play in urology, is also highlighted.

The advantages and disadvantages of robot-assisted surgery (RAS) will play a central role. RAS not only promises greater precision and less invasiveness for patients, but can also reduce surgeon fatigue. But as always: Where there is light, there is also shadow. Questions about patient safety and surgeon responsibility are coming to the fore, making it clear that open communication between medical staff and patients is essential. According to Scisimple, these ethical considerations must be integrated into the development process to ensure that the introduction of new technologies also benefits patients.

The DRUS Congress 2025 is not only a platform for presenting new robotic systems and AI-based assistance technologies, but also a forum that addresses the important ethical questions of modern medicine. Not only experts gather in Hamburg, but also thought leaders who want to work together on solutions to the challenges of the future.