| The Medical department on board a starship or space station is charged with providing health care to the ship's company and all attached personnel. The extended nature of many starship voyages as well as the hazardous nature of Starfleet duty can make this a considerable challenge. Additionally, the diverse range of lifeforms both in Starfleet as well as on various destination planets dramatically increases the scope of the task. All medical officers and enlisted crew are answerable to the CMO. It is the CMO's job to oversee all his or her department's issues, and to report them to the Captain or Executive Officer if need arises to do so. In addition to that, the Counselor also belongs to the Medical Department and works closely with the CMO, both trusting each other in a certain field of expertise. Only in rare occasions are officers from other departments, such as e.g. Security, able to give orders to those in medical. This is only true when matters of e.g. security are at hand. In this case, even if the CMO outranks the officer giving the order, he or she must see himself as answerable to the department in charge and must follow the given order as if he or she had received it from the Captain him- or herself. In matters pertaining to their own, namely the medical and the counseling, department, all medical personnel have the right to override the decisions of the CO or XO, or EVEN Starfleet Command (except Starfleet Medical). Spelled out that means, medical could for example refuse to allow someone to join an away team due to medical reasons, or could put someone in isolation, or could quarantine the ship or a whole planet, or relieve someone of duty temporarily. For these actions any medical personnel will find themselves answerable to Starfleet Command, and must be sure to have adequate proof to justify his or her actions before any tribunal. On any vessel, medical works closely with the Science Department, and of course, Counseling (as mentioned before). Lab space is shared, and experiments are conducted in agreement over priority. On a warship, not much scientific research is done, but it is never frowned upon when any medical officer invests some of his or her spare-time in medical research. It is necessary that approximately 40% of all crewmembers be cross-trained in secondary medical functions in case of an emergency. This especially includes Security and any marine contingent on the vessel. In case of a medical emergency, those cross-trained in medical functions and off duty at the moment of the emergency have to report in to medical at the earliest possible time. As to be seen in the protocols of medical, any person belonging to the medical personnel has sworn certain oaths to which he or she holds him/herself responsible. On top of the chain of oaths, even though not necessarily on top of each doctor's priority list, is the oath to Starfleet, including its Prime Directive. There will be times when the Prime Directive conflicts with the Hippocratic Oath. Be reminded of the Vulcan IDIC. As far as Starfleet Medical is concerned, this boils down to meaning that you must respect the wishes of any individual in regards to their cultures, practices, and beliefs. Only in times where their actions directly endanger their own life or that of others may you even consider intercepting, for their own good and that of others. |
| M E D I C A L |
 |
 |
| Main |
 |