By LESLEY MARROQUIN
Staff Writer
We’ve had attorneys with cat filters during trials, but now we have doctors performing surgery while on zoom. Dr. Scott Green was called to traffic court over zoom and was seen in scrubs and a hair net inside an operating room. The clerk proceeded to ask Dr. Green if he was available for trial. The plastic surgeon said it was fine to proceed with the trial, and was reminded that the videoconference would be broadcasting live. Dr. Green then continued to work on his patient while they waited for the judge. Upon joining the zoom meeting, Court Commissioner Gary Link immediately told the doctor that he did not want to proceed with the trial due to the patient who was currently being operated on. Dr. Green tried to reassure him that there was another surgeon present but the judge did not agree to continue with the trial and instead rescheduled it for a new date.
The Medical Board of California said it would investigate Dr. Green due to presence in his traffic violation trial while operating. The board stated that they, “expect physicians to follow the standard of care when treating their patients.” I never thought this would ever happen, and in some way it is kind of funny.