I think this is part of the reason why the various ways for the medusa to undo the petrification herself were put into the game. Well, that and being able to eat prey.
I've always seen the late D&D medusa as using this power in a modern manner, rather than the classic sense. The Greek medusa is either a pure monster, or if you take a certain slant on it, a tragic figure. It relates to Midas turning his daughter into gold, and power bringing woe to those that have it.
But in later D&D, the medusa is more like Adam Sandler in "Click". Hubby is acting up. Stoned. The dog won't stop barking. Garden ornament. The goblin neighbor kid is trying to peak through the fence while she is sunbathing at the pool. Freeze the evidence. Then when she gets ready to deal with it, undo the effect.