Doc attends Zoom court hearing during surgery

When a California doctor joined a Zoom hearing on Thursday to contest a traffic violation, the court clerk quickly noticed that he was wearing scrubs, gloves, a mask and a surgical cap.

“It kind of looks like you’re in an operating room right now,” the Sacramento Superior Court clerk said, in a livestreamed video of the hearing recorded by the Sacramento Bee.

“I am, sir,” Scott Green, a plastic surgeon, confirmed. “Yes, I’m in an operating room right now. I’m available for trial. Go right ahead.”

As they waited for the judge to arrive for a hearing that was live-streamed on Youtube under state laws, Green could be seen handling surgical tools. At one point, an apparently unconscious patient on a table briefly appeared in the frame.

When Sacramento Superior Court Commissioner Gary Link finally popped onto the Zoom, he appeared disturbed by Green’s video feed.

“So unless I’m mistaken, I’m seeing a defendant that’s in the middle of an operating room appearing to be actively engaged in providing services to a patient. Is that correct, Mr. Green?” Link asked.

When Green confirmed he was operating on a patient, the judge immediately delayed the trial. “I do not feel comfortable for the welfare of a patient, if you’re in the process of operating, that I would put on a trial,” he said.

Green reassured the judge that another surgeon was assisting him, “so I can stand here and allow them to do the surgery also,” he said.

“Not at all,” Link quickly responded. “I don’t think so. I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

The Medical Board of California said it is investigating the incident.