Community Chat

[Marp]

California doctor performs surgery while appearing at video traffic court appointment 

The world of videoconferencing and remote work has taken strange turns during the pandemic, with the foibles of faulty technology — or the simply bizarre — on view.

The image of “Lawyer Cat,” the Texas lawyer who found himself transformed into a virtual kitten in front of a judge when he could not shut off his Zoom filter, became a viral sensation a few weeks ago.

Now add to the annals the Case of the Distracted Doc.

A Northern California plastic surgeon who showed up for his traffic trial Thursday afternoon via videoconference surprised a Sacramento judge by going live from his operating room.

Amid the whirs and bleeps of medical machinery, the sounds of suction and the bright glow of surgical lamps, Scott Green appeared before Sacramento Superior Court Commissioner Gary Link’s virtual courtroom at Carol Miller Justice Center, donning his surgical scrubs, ready to proceed, the patient undergoing the procedure just out of view.

“Hello, Mr. Green? Are you available for trial?” asked a courtroom clerk. “It kind of looks like you’re in an operating room right now?”

“I am, sir,” Green replied. “Yes, I’m in an operating room right now. I’m available for trial. Go right ahead.”

Balance of article:  miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article249549993.html

[mizree]

@Marp I would not want to be the patient if case did not turn out in doc's favor.

[Zernia Rose]

This is a terrible decision on the part of the doctor.  He could not attend to the needs of his patient while also engaging with the commisioner. At the very least, he should be sanctioned by the medical board and/or his medical facility for doing so.  The patient could have suffered harm, injury, or death.  The arrogance of the doctor is astounding.  

[Marp]

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@Zernia Rose wrote:

This is a terrible decision on the part of the doctor.  He could not attend to the needs of his patient while also engaging with the commisioner. At the very least, he should be sanctioned by the medical board and/or his medical facility for doing so.  The patient could have suffered harm, injury, or death.  The arrogance of the doctor is astounding.  

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IMO not only the doctor but every member of the surgical team. They are complicit by not stopping Green,

[godi]

Yikes I'm so glad I wasn't the patient. 

[LuvmyLab]

Performng surgery while representing yourself in court via video. Talk about being distracted!

[Lali1]

One word -Lawsuit! 

[ValuSkr]

Is the video on YouTube?  I'd like to see it.

[Mindy D]

I don't understand why the doctor just couldn't ask if he can be called back. I briefly skimmed an article about this. I'll have to reread. Maybe surgery had not started yet. 

UPDATE

OK, I checked. The plastic surgeon went ahead because although he was in the operating room and there was a surgery in process the doctor was not operatng at the time. A second doctor was leading the operation at the time of the call. The doctor explained this to the Superior Court Commisioner, Gary Link. Link had asked about a postponement and stated that he was uncomfortable with a doctor attending zoom court while in mid surgery. That's when the doctor explained that he was not operating. The judge said that would not be "appropriate" and postponed the trial.

[Yahooey]

this scenario seems very bizarre - was the doctor doing this for show?

I'm a very important doctor donnig his gown with machines whirring

if it was real ... holy cracker!