A Californian surgeon will be investigated by medical officials after attending a Zoom court hearing while performing an operation.
According to The Guardian, Dr Scott Green was due to appear over video call in the Sacramento superior court for a traffic related offence.
The plastic surgeon answered the video call in medical scrubs, where suction noises and other beeping could be clearly heard in the background.
"Yes, I'm in an operating room right now. Yes I'm available for trial. Go right ahead," Green told the clerk, despite concern being raised by members of the courtroom.
The entire situation was live-streamed on YouTube, which has been standard COVID-19 protocol in the United States, to ensure the court system can continue throughout the pandemic.
"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?" presiding commissioner, Gary Link asks, as reported by the Sacramento Bee newspaper.
Green then said a second surgeon was present, who was able to do the job for him, when he was required to speak to the court.
However, the court was adjourned with Link stating the situation was not "appropriate".
"I'm going to come up with a different date when you're not actively involved or participating and attending to the needs of a patient," he said.
The Medical Board of California is now investigating Dr Green, saying in a statement: "The board expects physicians to follow the standard of care when treating their patients."
