Democrat Maryland state lawmaker Terri Hill was fined by the Maryland Board of Physicians for participating in legislative meetings from an operating room.
She did it twice.
During one, she can be seen in a “surgical gown” and facemask.
A Maryland state lawmaker who is a plastic surgeon has been fined $15,000 and reprimanded for twice participating in legislative meetings via videoconference from an operating room during surgery.
Del. Terri Hill signed a consent order this month agreeing to the disciplinary actions from the Maryland Board of Physicians, which found the Democratic lawmaker guilty of “unprofessional conduct in the practice of medicine.”
The board noted that Hill participated in one voting session of a House committee while appearing in a video feed wearing “a surgical gown, facemask, and surgical cap.”
In Maryland’s legislative session this year, legislative committee meetings were held by videoconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The public was able to livestream the meetings and hearings.
“She was positioned under the surgical lights, focused downward, and would occasionally shift, reach for surgical instruments, or adjust the lights,” the board’s report said, noting the surgeon and other operating room staff “occasionally moved surgical equipment and blood-stained towels so that they were briefly visible on the video feed.”
Hill said that she got permission from both to operate while in the meeting.
One patient confirmed this but the second one said she didn’t remember having that conversation.
Hill is a plastic surgeon and claims she had the patient’s permission, and she would not put anyone at risk.
One patient said she did give Hill permission and the other said she didn’t remember having that conversation.
She responded by saying she was always looking to improve and that “includes accepting constructive criticism from others.”
UPDATED STORY: I just heard from Del. Terri Hill, who was disciplined and fined for zooming into legislative hearings from the OR. She says she always looks to improve and "sometimes this includes accepting constructive criticism from others."https://t.co/3RAg0zPimT
— Pamela Wood (@pwoodreporter) October 30, 2021
