How gaming consoles might reduce the incidence of medical negligence

So far, in the world of personal injury claims, the nearest video-gaming consoles have come to being of relevance is a few allegations that they cause RSI, induce epileptic fits or influence volatile young people to commit horrific acts of violence.

But now, it seems, they may just help surgeons reach levels of dexterity that might help guard against incidents of medical negligence.

And it is Nintendo's Wii console that is best in developing this heightened dexterity. Dr Mark Smith, director of the Banner Good Samaritan Hospital, explains, "The surgeons develop an increased efficiency, less errors, more fluid movement - basically they're just better.

"We can always tell the surgeons who are gamers, because they're naturally better. But what we're finding with the Wii is that the surgeons that use it regularly are achieving results that far outstrip those who have just gamed before. And that's because the Wii is very different."

With Christmas now five months away (and, let's face it, with the way the highstreet approaches Christmas, five months is practically tomorrow), it is easy to imagine what little Tommy Twelveyearold might make of this if he gets wind of the news. "Oh, Mum," I can hear him say. "I do so want to be a surgeon, and help cure people of terrible illnesses, but I fear that without a Nintendo Wii, I commit some terrible act of medical negligence. Gamers are much better surgeons, you see."

Also, it is worth noting Smith's words. He said, "Doctors who play regularly." Little Tommy is really going to have a field day with this. "Time to go to bed, Tommy!" Says mum. "Get off that thing at once, you'll get square eyes."

"Ah," replies Tommy. "You mean the square eyes of a surgeon. All the best surgeons have square eyes, mum. They're the ones who play for at least an hour a day. Please don't make me go to bed again, I don't think my fragile youth could possibly withstand having its dreams of one day becoming a leading consultant surgeon so cruelly dashed."

But, of course, it is not all kinds of surgery that benefit from the use of a Wii. Nor is it all games that provide benefit. Laparoscopic surgery is the kind that most benefits from use of the Nintendo console.

Once again, it is not hard to imagine "Mum, having played this tennis game for at least twelve hours this week, I've decided it is to imprecise to be of any benefit to my career in laparoscopic surgery. I need that new one you know the kung fu one that's been on the telly a lot recently. Oh, the irony, mum, to think that killing virtual people in a virtual world might one day help me save the lives of real people in the real world -but if that's what it takes"

Yet, if little Tommy does indeed one day go on to save lives while avoiding the kinds of surgical mishaps associated with medical negligence, who can say he wasn't right?

Can I claim?