A Clash of Ethics

[Gidgiddoni 0]

She took a deep breath, appreciating the feel of the soft white Tholian silk against her naked skin. The light chemise felt cool and gentle in contrast to the heavier fabric of the olive turtleneck she'd shed.

 

She carried a heaviness of heart after the incident in sickbay, although now fully convinced she had made the right decision. She regretted having to countermand a fellow physician. And she had no desire to cause added pain to a patient, especially as much as she'd felt during the empathic shunt. She certainly didn't like vindicating the intelligence officer whose ambition seemed unconcerned about violating boundaries, ethical or not.

 

But everything she'd seen on Qo'noS while tending Klingons showed her how much the culture valued honor above death. She saw the actual pride they took in enduring pain. After witnessing the hegh'bat ritual, it was clear that death with honor held wide importance: not just to warriors.

 

She frowned. Respect for a patient's autonomy was a fundamental ethical principle among Deltans and many humans. It was the premise behind informed consent.

 

In her judgment, Juno had ignored those values. "Frankly," he'd said, "the patient's wishes at this point are irrelevent."

 

That had been the crucial statement.

 

As they'd debated, she thought it was just a conflict of human and Klingon values. Haskins only wanted his information, but was willing to use an argument for the patient's wishes to get it. Even the devil can quote scripture to his purpose, she'd heard said. Juno had countered with an absolute doctrine of "do no harm" without acknowledging that inaction posed harm of its own. This was contrary to human value, as well. Broken bones needed to be set. Birthing pains led to new life.

 

Juno had asserted that Gid was just guessing at the patient's wishes. But he was guessing that, like many humans, the Klingon would prefer to die quietly in his sleep. Letting K'mar slip away unknowing, his mission unfulfilled, felt more like taking a safe default path just to deny the infuriating Haskins his prize. Truly, she did not believe Juno or Dr. Harris meant any such pettiness. But neither did she accept they were seeing past an all-too-human cultural bias.

 

The risk had been hers. She would answer any inquiries. She did not regret it.

 

In his dying moments, as she shunted his pain she felt the relief K'mar had felt. His cryptic malediction had given him peace during his final suffering. This in turn gave her comfort, although she would not offer it as vindication. Even if K'Mar had cursed her for awaking him to dishonor, she knew it had been right to offer him that option.

 

She smoothed the silken blouse across her abdomen. The change in clothes was symbolic of a change in duty.

 

Down on the surface, she had already told Dr. Harris of her intention to step down as CMO, leave the ship, and continue working among the Klingon survivors of Praxis. In those captive hours with K'tossagh, she had composed a request to be stationed on Qo'noS, or failing to secure a transfer, a resignation. After walking away from the corpse in sickbay tonight, she had advised Captain Seiben in person. The captain had understood, agreeing to leave her on the planet with an intact commission, if possible.

 

She had returned to her quarters, taken a sonic shower, and gathered her few belongings. The weight of the CMO mantle had lifted from her shoulders. But as her thoughts returned to K'mar, to Juno, and to Harris, she knew she could not use the excuse to shirk the immediate consequence of her decision. She had driven a wedge in her department; it would be cheating to walk away. Her species might crave nuturing and empathic encounters, but she'd joined Starfleet to learn about the diversity of the galaxy. And that included meetings that might be unpleasant.

 

She exhaled raggedly and unlaced the tie on her chemise. She shrugged back her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Her hand went to the olive-colored undershirt and the regulation white medical coat that would cover it.

 

Moments later, more suitably dressed, she left her nearly vacant quarters and sought the cabin of Dr. Alexei Juno.

Edited October 18, 2008 by Gidgiddoni