Phage

During an Away Team survey of a planetoid that seems rich in raw dilithium, Neelix is attacked and left for dead. He is beamed to Sickbay where the Doctor reports that Neelix's lungs have been removed. With no other alternatives, the Doctor fits Neelix with holographic lungs. They'll keep him alive, but require him to remain confined in an isotropic restraint in Sickbay for the rest of his life.

Janeway leads an Away Team back to the planetoid, where they discover a medical lab filled with harvested organs. Unfortunately, Neelix's lungs are not among them. Minutes later, an alien ship speeds away from the planet and Voyager sets off in pursuit.

When confronted, the aliens admit that they stole Neelix's lungs, but defend their actions by recounting how their species - the Vidiians- have been plagued for years by the "Phage", a gruesome disease that destroys their genetic codes and cellular structure. Unable to find a cure, they have learned to survive by scavenging organs from other species to replace their own diseased organs. Unfortunately Neelix's lungs have already by transplanted into one of the Vidiian's bodies. Unwilling to sentence the Vidiian to death to regain Neelix's chance for life, Janeway reluctantly releases the scavengers.

Grateful to the Captain for sparing them, the Vidiians offer to help Neelix with their superior medical technology. With their assistance, Kes is able to donate one of her lungs to Neelix, allowing him to live a normal life. The Doctor after spending time with Kes while she was with Neelix in Sickbay realizes she would make an ideal Medical Assistant. He asks the Captain for permission to begin training her as his medical assistant which she gladly grants.

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