Dirty doctor sent tawdry texts during surgery, Seattle health officials say

A doctor in America has been suspended after state officials discovered he was allegedly sending sexually explicit text messages during some two dozen operations last year.

The charges against Arthur Zilberstein, of Seattle, suggest he looked through a patient's medical records to obtain pictures for his own sexual gratification, and may also have been exchanging sexually explicit texts with that patient, according to documents made public by the Washington Department of Health. In one instance, health officials allege he sent a picture of his genitals to someone while wearing scrubs.

The health department said Zilberstein engaged in similar misconduct during about two dozen operations, ranging from caesarean sections to an appendectomy, in a five-month span from April to August last year, according to records.

Reached at his home, Zilberstein had little to say. "I know you have a report to do," he said. "But I have nothing to tell you. Thanks for calling."

During one procedure last August, Zilberstein, who worked as an anaesthesiologist, allegedly sent 45 messages with sexual innuendo in less than two hours.

Last July, the doctor allegedly sent more than a dozen messages arranging a sexual encounter with his girlfriend at the hospital.