Doctor Operates On Patient During Zoom Traffic Court Trial

It's a whole new world for the court system, and it's all thanks to COVID.

(Sacramento Superior Court via Sacramento Bee)

Thanks to the pandemic, the world is getting a whole new look at the legal system, and it’s often quite entertaining. Everyone has seen the viral Lawyer Cat video, which featured an attorney having difficulties with a kitten Zoom filter during a virtual hearing. Now, the latest viral sensation features a plastic surgeon who attempted to stand trial in virtual traffic court while a patient was on his operating table — and the judge on the case was not having it.

Meet Dr. Scott Green, a California plastic surgeon who appeared before Sacramento Superior Court Commissioner Gary Link from an operating room in full scrubs with a scalpel in hand. After telling a court clerk that he was ready for trial, Green appears to return to performing a procedure on his patient.

Once Link entered the scene, he immediately expressed his dismay with what was happening. The Sacramento Bee has the details:

“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? Or should I say Dr. Green?” Link asked over the sounds of suction and the beep-beep of medical devices.

“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 notwithstanding the fact the officer is here today,” the commissioner said.

Green assured Link that he needn’t worry and that the trial could go on because another surgeon was standing by to operate as well. “I don’t think so. I don’t think that’s appropriate,” Link said in response.

Link, whose mind seemed to be completely blown that Green was actively operating on a patient, said he would reschedule the case for March 4. “We want to keep people healthy, we want to keep them alive. That’s important,” he said.

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The Medical Board of California is now looking into Dr. Green’s virtual brush with the law, and a spokesperson noted that the Board “expects physicians to follow the standard of care when treating their patients.”

Check out the full hearing, below:

California doctor performs surgery while appearing at video traffic court appointment [Sacramento Bee]


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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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