Doctor (Civilian)

Position Description

A Civilian doctor or physician is a doctor not connected to Starfleet Medical or Starfleet in general. They hold no Starfleet rank but often serve on Starships and starbases (both starfleet and civilian).

During the age of sail, a time on Earth where the boats were primarily propulsioned by sails, the Ship's Physicians, or Surgeons as they were called during that time, didn't need to have a Medical Degree and were usually trained by way of apprenticeship before coming aboard a vessel. This however is the Space age and due to regulations by the UFP Ship's Physicians are required to hold a Medical Degree, hence the difference in name.

The Physician is required to keep the sickbay and medical kits up to regulations set forth by the UFP or other sovereign entities the vessel conducts her business in. A Physician may call on the Deck Hands to function as loblolly boys (or girls as the case may warrant), these 'loblolly boys' originally were unlicensed crew that would be an assistant to the Surgeon. Through this the Deck Hands can learn about first aide.

In case there are wounded or ill that require the care of the Ship's Physician it is mandatory for him to check in on them twice a day, as set forth by the UFP, usually this is done in the morning and in the evening. A Ship's Physician doesn't have an official duty roster but may be called upon 24/7 in case of a medical emergency.

As Civilain physicians they can open their own practice on starbases and colonys. The word physician applies to a person who practices some type of human biological medicine. Such practitoners are concerned with maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury, through both an area of knowledge — a science — of body systems, their diseases and treatment, and the applied practice — an art or craft — of that knowledge.

Civilian Physicians can serve onboard starships and often hold the same rank as CMO, and other medical positions often filled by Starfleet Medical Personnel. As A civilian they do not fall rank but as CMO they can still relieve the Captain of his/her duty.

Civilians may be the lowest ranked personnel but as a Doctor his or her skills are vital to a starship.

Where to Play

• Starfleet run Starbase or large facility
• Civilian Colony
• Larger Starfleet vessels (like Galaxy classes)
• Civilian Ships

Character Development Ideas

• Civilian doctors often have to cope with a lack of resources or lack of advanced medical technology, since most things in civilian life have to be set off against the 'profit margin'. This makes civilian doctors inherently more creative and orthodox with cures.
• More so than Starfleet doctors those who take up the profession as civilians might have the choice to deny their services to certain people. Whether or not this coincides with their own morals and standards is up to the individual doctor.

Other Resources

Content...(Several links with short descriptions that give the player help playing a civilian character in general as well as playing in this specific position)