Forget your white-knuckle grip on the armrest; Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University has just rolled out a rather clever bit of kit: the MagicNurse Intelligent Venipuncture & Blood Collection Robot. This automated phlebotomist is now on the job, and it’s reportedly clocking a brilliant 94.3% first-puncture success rate. That’s absolutely smashing news for roughly 19 out of every 20 patients, who can now look forward to a swift, robotic jab. For the statistically less fortunate 5.7%, however, one can always take solace in the fact that a good old-fashioned human will eventually be on hand to sort things out. Probably with a knowing sigh and a sympathetic pat on the arm.
