A surgeon attended a virtual court hearing while dressed in scrubs and operating on a patient.
Plastic surgeon Scott Green shocked the court by attending the hearing, which was being streamed live through Zoom, while treating a patient in an operation theatre.
Appearing before Sacramento Superior Court in the US on Thursday, Mr Green said he was prepared to face his trial on a traffic charge, despite being seen tending to machines in the room.
Court commissioner Gary Link said he was forced to postpone the hearing because he didn't think it was "appropriate" to continue.
Speaking over the online virtual meeting room, a clerk said: "Hello, Mr Green? Are you available for trial? It kind of looks like you're in an operating room right now?"
Mr Green admitted he was in an operating room, but was willing to proceed.
He said: "I am, sir… I'm available for trial. Go right ahead."
The commissioner said he would adjourn proceedings until the medic was "not actively involved or participating and attending to the needs of a patient."
Mr Link said: "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?
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"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."
The surgeon apologised to the court, but Mr Link refused to continue.
The commissioner said: "It happens. We want to keep people healthy, we want to keep them alive. That's important.
"I'm concerned about the welfare of the patient based on what I'm seeing."
According to The Sacramento Bee, The Medical Board of California yesterday said it would investigate the incident, adding that it "expects physicians to follow the standard of care when treating their patients".
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