A California judge was forced to postpone a trial after a doctor showed up for it whilst in the middle of performing surgery.
Dr Scott Green joined the courtroom on Zoom for his traffic trial dressed in his surgical scrubs and wearing a mask.
The shocked clerk of Sacramento Superior Court was then forced to ask Dr Green if he was available for trial, as it 'kind of looks like you're in an operating room right now?", reports The Sacramento Bee.
Dr Green replied: “Yes, I’m in an operating room right now. I’m available for trial. Go right ahead.”
“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?”, asked the court commissioner Gary Link.
“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.”
A court commissioner in the Sacramento Superior Court System is appointed by a judge to carry out judicial functions.
Proceedings from the court have been livestreamed and posted on YouTube due to limited access to courtrooms due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr Green tried to reassure the court that another surgeon was working beside him but Mr Link replied: “I don’t think so. I don’t think that’s appropriate."
The court then decided to arrange a different date as Dr Green tried to apologise.
“I apologise, your honour, to the court. Sometimes, surgery doesn’t always go as…”
Mr Link interuppted: "I’m concerned about the welfare of the patient based on what I’m seeing."
The case was then rescheduled for March.
The Medical Board of California said it would review the incident.
A statement said: "The Medical Board of California expects physicians to follow the standard of care when treating their patients.
Dr Scott Green joined the courtroom on Zoom for his traffic trial dressed in his surgical scrubs wearing a mask.
“The Board is aware of this incident and will be looking into it, as it does with all complaints it receives.”
Dr Scott Green has been contacted for comment.
