SACRAMENTO, California (AP) – The California Medical Board said it would investigate a plastic surgeon who appeared in a video conference for his trial for traffic violation while operating.
The Sacramento Bee reports Dr. Scott Green appeared in court Thursday in Sacramento High Court, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, from an operating room. He was dressed in surgical scrubs with a patient who was undergoing the procedure out of sight; the sounds of the medical machinery can be heard in the background.
“Hello, Mr. Green? Hello Are you available for the test? he asked a court clerk when an officer summoned to appear at the trial raised his eyebrows. “Looks like you’re in an operating room right now?”
“I am, sir,” replied Green. “Yes, I am in an operating room right now. Yes, I am available for testing. Straight.”
The secretary reminded Green that the proceedings were being streamed live because the law requires traffic trials to be open to the public and Green said he understood. He seemed to continue working with his head down as he waited for Judicial Commissioner Gary Link to enter the courtroom.
When Link appeared and saw the doctor on screen, the judge hesitated to continue the trial out of concern for the patient’s well-being.
“I have another surgeon here who does the surgery with me, so I can be here and allow them to do the surgery as well,” Green said.
The judge said he did not believe it was appropriate to make the trial in these circumstances. He told Green that he would prefer to set a new date for the trial “when you are not actively involved, not involved and meeting the needs of a patient.”
Green apologized.
“Sometimes surgery doesn’t always work,” he said before the judge interrupted him.
“That happens. We want to keep people healthy, we want to keep them alive. That’s important,” Link said.
The board said it would examine the incident, saying it “expects doctors to meet the standard of care when treating their patients.”
No call returned for comments from Green.