California medical officials said they would investigate a plastic surgeon who appeared on a video conference for a traffic violation trial while operating.
Sacramento Bee reported that Scott Green attended his trial in Sacramento’s high court on Thursday, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, in an operating room.
He was dressed in a surgical uniform with a patient undergoing an out of sight procedure; the beeps of medical machines can be heard in the background.
“Hello, Mr. Green? Hi. Are you available for evaluation? ”Asked a court official when an officer summoned to appear at the trial raised his eyebrows. “Does it look like you’re in an operating room right now?”
“I am, sir,” replied Green. “Yes, I am in an operating room now. Yes, I am available for evaluation. Go ahead.”
The secretary reminded Green that the proceedings were being broadcast live because traffic trials are required by law to be open to the public, and Green said he understood. He seemed to continue working with his head down while waiting for Court Commissioner Gary Link to enter the chamber.
When Link appeared and saw the doctor on the screen, the judge hesitated to proceed with the trial out of concern for the patient’s well-being.
“I have another surgeon right here who is doing the surgery with me, so I can stay here and allow them to do the surgery too,” said Green.
The judge said he did not think it was appropriate to conduct the trial under those circumstances. He told Green that he preferred to set a new test date “when you are not actively involved or participating and meeting a patient’s needs”.
Green apologized.
“Sometimes, surgery is not always so …” he said, before the judge interrupted him.
Link said, “It happens. We want to keep people healthy, we want to keep them alive. This is important.”
The California Medical Council said it would investigate the incident, saying it “expects doctors to follow the standard of care when treating their patients.”
A call seeking Green’s comments was not returned.