SACRAMENTO, Calif. 鈥� The Medical Board of California said it would investigate a plastic surgeon who appeared in a videoconference for his traffic violation trial while operating.
The Sacramento Bee reports Dr. Scott Green appeared Thursday for his Sacramento Superior Court trial, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, from an operating room. He was dressed in surgical scrubs with a patient undergoing the procedure just out of view; the beeps of medical machinery can be heard in the background.
鈥淗ello, Mr. Green? Hi. Are you available for trial?鈥� asked a courtroom clerk as an officer summoned to appear in trial raised her eyebrows. 鈥淚t kind of looks like you鈥檙e in an operating room right now?鈥�
鈥淚 am, sir,鈥� Green replied. 鈥淵es, I鈥檓 in an operating room right now. Yes, I鈥檓 available for trial. Go right ahead.鈥�
The clerk reminded Green the proceedings were being livestreamed because traffic trials are required by law to be open to the public, and Green said he understood. He appeared 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 welfare of the patient.
鈥淚 have another surgeon right here who鈥檚 doing the surgery with me, so I can stand here and allow them to do the surgery also,鈥� Green said.
The judge said he didn't think it was appropriate to conduct trial under the circumstances. He told Green he'd rather set a new date for trial 鈥渨hen you鈥檙e not actively involved or participating and attending to the needs of a patient.鈥�
Green apologized.
鈥淪ometimes, surgery doesn't always go as,鈥� he said before the judge interrupted him.
鈥淚t happens. We want to keep people healthy, we want to keep them alive. That鈥檚 important," Link said.
The board said it would look into the incident, saying it 鈥渆xpects physicians to follow the standard of care when treating their patients.鈥�
A call seeking comment from Green has not been returned.
Associated Press, The Associated Press
