Imagine that you’re about to undergo a surgical procedure. You’re anesthetized, but you feel confident because you’ve put yourself in the hands of a doctor you believe you can trust. Furthermore, the hospital where your procedure is taking place has state-of-the-art technology equipment.

What you don’t see is that the computer screen your physician and attending nurses are focused on is one for their own personal use. Examples include a doctor who makes personal calls on his smartphone during a procedure and a nurse checking airfares during surgery on her iPad or even texting a friend about dinner plans.

It’s a phenomenon that has set off an intense discussion at hospitals and medical schools, and it’s sometimes referred to as “distracted doctoring.” We’re not trying to scare you, but we want you to know that it happens with growing frequency.

The medical community knows it has a problem with doctors, nurses and staff members who are glued to their electronic devices. But there’s no denying it: the devices increase the potential for distraction from the patient.  Medical procedures are at risk, and lives are in danger.

Consider this. Some 55 percent of technicians who monitor bypass machines acknowledged, in a recent study, that they had talked on cell phones during heart surgery. Half said they had texted while in surgery. Yet over 40 percent admitted that such practices are unsafe and can lead to disastrous consequences.

Interruptions are nothing new to doctors who have worn beepers for years and, by definition, must multitask. What has changed is that doctors and their assistants, especially younger ones, are frequently using electronic devices and not only for the benefit of patients. Too often, it’s for personal reasons. It’s a medical malpractice lawsuit waiting to happen.