SACRAMENTO, California (AP) – The California Medical Council said it would investigate a plastic surgeon who appeared on a video conference for his traffic violation trial while operating.
The Sacramento Bee reports Dr. Scott Green appeared on Thursday for his trial at the Sacramento Superior Court, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, in an operating room. He was dressed in a surgical uniform, with a patient who was undergoing the procedure out of sight; 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 to work with his head down while he waited for the 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 trial date “when you are not actively involved or participating and attending to a patient’s needs”.
Green apologized.
“Sometimes surgery doesn’t always work as it does,” he said before the judge interrupted him.
“It happens. We want to keep people healthy, we want to keep them alive. This is important,” said Link.
The 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.