Marines Have Brains Too

Posted on Saturday 28 April 2018 @ 19:16 by Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D.

Mission: Academy Days
Location: =/\= Starfleet Academy =/\=
Timeline: 238101.11
923 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

1st Lieutenant John Barstow stood outside the Starfleet Academy Medical school and took a deep breath. Only a few days before he had been on an intelligence assignment. He had heard of a seat open at the medical school and requested Marine command put him in for the opening.. It had not been an easy road, the Corps and then Starfleet Medical had both wanted him to explain why he wanted the seat. Then for admission he had to write an essay explaining why he felt he was right for the program as well as why he wanted to become a medical officer, beyond the general wanting to help people. The Marine had written about his experience in the battlefield and the feeling of helplessness he had felt when all he could offer was the basic first aid that they all learned. The problem he had was basic first aid couldn't save limbs or save more traumatic injuries.

The faculty had narrowly decided to give him the seat despite arguments that his just being a Marine violated the Hippocratic oath of do no harm. As he stood looking at the doors to the building he was shoved out of the way by a passing medical Cadet, "get out of the way, killer, go back to your grinder," the Cadet sneered.

Barstow just shook his head and sighed before walking through the doors. The floor was white marble with the familiar symbol of Starfleet Medical. The floor to ceiling windows filled the the entire foyer with light, making the stark white walls shimmer. John just smiled as he moved into the corridor and finally found his first class. The Marine sat at the back of the lecture hall, feeling out of place with his green uniform in a sea of turquoise.

"Ladies and gentleman, I am Commander Sansa Starkin and I will be your instructor for this introduction to medicine course. This is a physiology course which will go through the various anatomies that you will encounter. If you did not intend to be in this class please leave now," the dark haired woman said and leaned on the podium looking at Barstow. When no one left she took a breath, "alright, so, the first thing I like to do is introduce you to the oath we take as doctors. Most of you know the do no harm bit, however, there is much more to it....Mister Barstow, why don't you recite that for us and tell us why that is important and how it may clash with ... various situations."

John looked at the Commander before standing up and going to attention, "aye, ma'am," he replied and started to talk only to be interrupted.

"Relax, Lieutenant, we don't need an example of a cerebral bleed," she said mockingly, sending chuckles through the room.

John relaxed and bit back his own comment, "aye, ma"am. I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help," the Marine recited and paused to take a breath, "and it may clash with circumstances such as defending ones self or fellow crew, or, in the event you must treat the enemy. As Doctors in Starfleet we, even in the worst situations, never make the choice of having to take a life our first, and if treating a patient, never let taking that life enter our minds."

Starkin just nodded, "very good. Now, keep that in mind as your current chosen profession seems to directly contradict our most sacred oath," she said then took a breath, "ok, today's lesson....."