In the latest outlandish Zoom court hearing that took place Thursday, a plastic surgeon carried out his trial before the traffic court during an operation, according to NBC News.
Sacramento physician Scott Green virtually appeared in scrubs and gloves, much to the astonishment of the clerk in court.
Hello, Mr. Green? Are you available for a trial? ‘ asked the clerk, according to images shared by The Sacramento Bee. “Looks like you’re in an operating theater now?”
The doctor assured the servant that he was fine.
“Yes, sir,” said Green.
He continued: ‘Yes, I am now in an operating theater. I am available for trial. Go ahead.’
Shortly after Gary Link, Sacramento Superior Court commissioner, entered the Zoom hearing, he called for a postponement, stating that he was uncomfortable with the idea that the doctor was present halfway through the operation.
“Unless I’m mistaken, I see a defendant sitting in the middle of an operating theater who appears to be actively involved in providing services to a patient,” he said. “Is that correct, Mr. Green?”
Green confirmed again that he was in the middle of an operation, but that another doctor in the room was conducting the patient’s surgery at this time.
“I have another surgeon here who is doing the surgery with me, so I can stand here and have them do the surgery too,” Green replied.
Despite Green’s reassurance that the court was free to proceed, Link ended the hearing, citing the patient’s well-being.
“I don’t think so. I don’t think that’s appropriate,” commented Link, noting that they would come up with a different date for when Green “isn’t actively involved or participating in a patient’s needs.”
Green apologized for the incident, saying the timing of the surgery does not always go as planned.
Link closed the hearing, saying, “It’s happening. We want to keep people healthy, we want to keep them alive. That’s important.”
The hearing was live-streamed and posted on YouTube, as required by law, as it is mandatory for traffic trials to be made public, The Sacramento Bee noted.
The incident occurred weeks after a virtual hearing in Texas was interrupted after a lawyer managed to get stuck with a cat filter on his face.