A Northern California plastic surgeon is raising legal eyebrows after he logged into his videoconference traffic trial while performing surgery on a patient. He even raised a bloody gloved hand to be sworn in which surprised the Sacramento judge who asked him if he was in the middle of surgery on a patient.

Scott Green confirmed that yes indeed he was able to work and attend court as he appeared before Sacramento Superior Court Commissioner Gary Link’s virtual courtroom at Carol Miller Justice Center.

The judge was not comfortable with the arrangement and expressed concern for human life, 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.”

Traffic trials are required by law to be open to the public and due to COVID, this one was live-streamed on YouTube.

“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

Dr. Green explained that he was able to multitask and do both, but if the judge was uncomfortable he had a backup surgeon waiting in the wings.

The judge did not want any part of the plastic surgeon’s circus and shutdown the video appearance. Dr. Green is now under investigation and is at risk of losing his medical license. He also faces a possible malpractice lawsuit from the patient involved.