Primum Non Nocere

Posted on Fri Feb 14th, 2025 @ 1:29pm by Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell
Edited on on Fri Feb 14th, 2025 @ 1:30pm

Mission: Ramant
Location: USS Sunfire
Timeline: Current

“What does it mean to do no harm?” the doctor thought to himself, standing alone in the quiet operating room. His gloved hands shook slightly as he adjusted the instruments before him. The air was heavy with the weight of the decision ahead—he was about to perform a procedure on an alien woman carrying a non-viable fetus.

He had studied this scenario, prepared for it, but in this moment, it felt different. The patient wasn’t just a set of medical conditions; she was a mother, holding a life inside her that, despite all efforts, would not survive. Her body, fragile yet resilient, was carrying the burden of this loss. To do no harm in this situation wasn’t just about precision or avoiding injury—it was about honoring both lives involved. Each choice, every movement, would be a delicate balance between compassion for the woman and respect for the unborn child, whose life, though brief, had meaning.

“Do no harm,” he repeated quietly, grounding himself in the promise he had made to every patient he had ever treated. He thought of the mother, her veracity and heartbreak intertwined, and the small, non-viable life she carried. He couldn’t erase the pain of this experience, but he could ease it.

In this moment, the procedure wasn’t just a medical task—it was a profound act of care, one that honored both lives. Every incision, every step would be taken with the utmost respect, ensuring that this mother’s healing process was as gentle and compassionate as possible. His hands, though skilled, had to move with the understanding that both lives mattered, and his duty was to protect them both with the fullest measure of his ability.

Half an hour later, Bonnie cracked open her eyes and looked around. She was attached to an intravenous tube providing her with much needed nutritional sustenance. Her eyes still showed the impact of what the fetus was doing to her body in the form of dark circles and heavy bags. Her chest felt heavy. Her hips felt swollen and there was a pain in her abdomen.

"Good, you're awake." The doctor had been standing off to the side, contemplating his future. "I feared you had given in to your ailments."

"Close. Did you save me?" Bonnie asked, her voice weak and raspy.

"More or less. I, made a choice." He stepped closer. "There were two patients in peril and neither one would live if the autocrats had their way. It seems the initial implantation was not performed correctly, which aided in my decision to abort the offspring." He sounded solemn. "The individual responsible will be reprimanded."

She watched as the doctor spoke and couldn't help but offer, "Thank you. Will you be punished as well?"

"Possibly. Right now they governing body have bigger obstacles to worry about than some Doctor who chose not to abide by the orders of those who have a one track vision and no understanding of the Doctor's Creed. I can do no harm."

Bonnie squinted as she contemplated his words. "By abducting us, against our wills, your people are absolutely doing harm." She coughed as the weakness in her lungs entered her throat briefly.

He nodded slightly, "I see that now. But you must know, the greater good trumps common sense and good judgement and our people are desperate. It is a deadly combination of factors that has set in motion a series of unfortunate events."

"You are playing with people's lives." She started to criticize but the sorrowful look suggested to her that she would be better off taking a more tactful approach. "We are not unintelligent. If you had approached us as equals, we would have been apt to help."

"Caring is an emotion, one we lack in the best of times. Perhaps..." He looked thoughtful for a moment, but then a nurse entered followed by what looked like a Scientist and her fellow henchmen.

"I see the patient is recovering. Where is the fetus?"

The doctor stepped between Bonnie and the scientist. "The fetus was non-viable as documented. It was not implanted correctly." He responded sternly.

"Ah, well, see that the test subject receives a new implantation, correctly this time, and send her back to the cell block."

"She will require recovery time and possible further study before we attempt a second induction."

"You'll see to it yourself then?" The Scientist stared him down before clapping her hands twice. "Good, all is well." Then she turned and left the room, minions in tow.

They left almost as quickly as they had entered, off to inspect other specimen. This left Bonnie perplexed and the Doctor with a renewed sense of conviction. He faced the remaining nurse, "Have this specimen prepped and moved to my private chamber. Make certain she is cared for." Another choice. "I will tend to her in due time."

"Yes Doctor." The nurse replied as she set to work making certain orders were followed to the letter.

Bonnie watched more with her eyes as she pieced the puzzle together. There was much she was missing but if she could take advantage of the situation in just the right way, she would be able to learn a thing or two and just maybe, make a difference.

TBC