Dr. Scott Green, a plastic surgeon, came to his virtual hearing in Sacramento Superior Court – held above Zoom – to challenge a traffic violation, wearing scrubs, gloves, a mask and a surgical cap.
“Are you available for a trial?” a clerk of the Superior Court in Sacramento asked Green during the proceedings, who was live-streamed. “Looks like you’re in an operating theater now?”
“I’m in an operating theater,” he replied. “Yes, I am available for trial. Go ahead”, ”
In the background you can hear the sound of screeching medical equipment and the live stream shows Green handling surgical instruments. He said there was another surgeon around to help with the operation while he appeared in court.
But after confirming he was operating on a patient, Judge Gary Link, the court commissioner, rescinded the lawsuit.
“So unless I’m mistaken, I see that a suspect sitting in the middle of an operating theater appears to be actively involved in providing services to a patient,” Link said during the virtual hearing. “I don’t feel comfortable for the welfare of a patient if you are having an operation that I would bring to court.”
In a statement to CNN, the California Medical Board said it is investigating the incident.
“The California Medical Board expects physicians to follow standard of care in treating their patients,” the council said in a statement. “The Council is aware of this incident and will investigate it, as with all complaints it receives.”
CNN reached out to Green for comment, but did not hear back. His next hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Link said.