Thoughts On "Similitude"

[FredM 0]

Hey all,

 

Yup...here we go again! Your thoughts on the latest Star Trek: Enterprise episode that aired this week! :)

 

Again, for those not good with names, episode 310 is "When Trip suffers a catastrophic injury, his only hope for survival is a transplant from a "mimetic simbiot" – a clone – which Phlox grows from one of his exotic creatures. But it's a very troubling solution."

 

In some respects, I think this episode really got to the heart of what Star Trek has always been good about. In a day and age when we have to deal with questions about cloning, it really brings into focus many of the critical issues. Bringing up current social issues is something this franchise has been good at for over thirty years and to that end this was a quality episode.

 

However, I did have some problems with it. First, I'm somewhat puzzled by the fact there was no reference given to the Eugenics Wars. Other Trek incarnations have shown serious concern from the lessons learned during this conflict. Yet, here, our characters are actually closer in time to the event...and you would think have even more respect for it. Regretfully, it isn't even mentioned.

 

Second, I must say I'm still trying to figure out this entire T'Pol/Trip situation. There was simply too much emotion on T'Pol's face throughout this episode. Perhaps more puzzling is the lack of explanation of it. Not once was a comment made "Your (I) am Vulcan...these feelings aren't logical." That concerns me a little. That needs to be explained. The beginning scenes between the two are fine with me. I can completely understand the concept of two people having a working relationship. Not every M/F event is romantic in nature.

 

Now, if T'Pol's kiss was more for Sim's benefit than an expression of her emotions...that I could go for. This could easily have been explained if Sim would have come out and said "Well, you know I will only be alive for X number of days...would like to live a little." But that didn't happen.

 

Overall, as I said, I think it was a good episode. Wasn't a ton of action and that's all right. We've had a lot of that recently. As for next week, Carpenter Street, I'm not 100% sold. Really depends on how they play it.

[ens_tino 0]

I thought it was the best episode yet. But the previews made it look like the actual Trip had been killed.

[FredM 0]

Hey there,

 

I know the previews had some people so upset that the actor had to calm fears at an appearance he made last weekend! Though I kind of think the episode might have been better if Sim actually lived out his life and died naturally...::shrugs::

[Dumbass 0]

Hey there,

 

I know the previews had some people so upset that the actor had to calm fears at an appearance he made last weekend! Though I kind of think the episode might have been better if Sim actually lived out his life and died naturally...::shrugs::

Yeah, really! If he died, how could he make an appearance last weekend?

[ens_tino 0]

But as they said though he wasnt goin to survive the operation so that gave some of the episode away.

[Nemesis 0]

If he survived when he would've died naturally he would've been too old for the trick they played to get people to view :)

[FredM 0]

Hey there,

 

I just think the story would have flowed better if we'd gotten to see Sim live out his entire life vs having the episode run the way it did. :)

[T'Aniz Jozef 0]

"Do no harm."

That is the most important ethical principle in medicine. Now, and in all the other Star Trek shows we've seen. So, when McCoy releives his father from suffering in a terminal illness...the decision is a wrenching one to make. (Not to mention the aftermath: a cure found, after the father dies.) So, did Dr. Phlox violate that ethic? Clearly what was living was going to have its life ended because of the procedure he performed. Was that a violation? And if it was a violation, did circumstances warrent it?

 

Would McCoy or Crusher or Bashir or the EMH of Voyager have done the same thing? Would a doctor from our own time have done the same thing?

 

:D I don't have answers. B) I THINK it's a violation. :) I THINK he took a life. B) I am GLAD Tripp is going to live. :) I am in self contradiction!! B) But I do know that this episode raised some important and serious questions. B) And isn't that what good Star Trek does??? :) I guess I'll leave Dr. Phlox to be judged by a jury of his peers...a medical review board of his century. B) And I'll sit back and enjoy pondering the issues the episode raised. B) I voted the 2nd choice. A really, really good show. B)

[Nemesis 0]

Personally I don't think it was unethical because Trip is needed for Enterprise to stop the Xindi and it would save billions of lives so in comparison to one live that was lost that would most likely not survive more then 15 days even if that enzyme was made for it was unlikely for it to make him live past the 15 day mark.

[Brex X'Dill 0]

"Do no harm."

That is the most important ethical principle in medicine. Now, and in all the other Star Trek shows we've seen. So, when McCoy releives his father from suffering in a terminal illness...the decision is a wrenching one to make. (Not to mention the aftermath: a cure found, after the father dies.) So, did Dr. Phlox violate that ethic?

I do think he did volate the "Do No Harm" Clause, but he is from another spices not in Starfleet yet. So give him some leeway.

 

 

Brex

Your loveable bolian :) :) B) B) B) B) B) :)

[Travis Kroells 0]

Ok, I have two issues to state, on serious, and then one just cause I got all hot and bothered when I saw the kiss.

 

First, Im not even going to dive into human cloning, wether it's ethical or not, I dont honestly care, untill some clone of me tricks my girlfriend, it's not an issue for me.

 

Did Phlox step over the ethical line, if you think cloning in itself is evil, then probably. If your like me, and doesnt really care if theres a double of you, because you finally have a sibling to play video games with, then maybe not.

 

Also consider this, they didnt just raise sim to be an organ farm. They raised him, and considered him a member of the crew, and they also believed that he'd survive the procedure. And at the same time, when they figured out he'd die, they told him, and he made a concious decision himself to do it, (even though he almost bailed) so I dont think any human rights were infringed. He knew what he was, why he was there, and he made the decision.

 

And as for the kiss, I just wish my VCR worked... :) :)

[STSF_BluRox 0]

Finally!! They've started the captain down the path....to the dark side.

 

Muhahahah

[FredM 0]

Hey there,

 

Well, it's true that Phlox did break what we'd consider an ethical guideline for medical techniques and practices. However, it can be said that he's from another species that may not hold true to such guidelines. Let's remember, he has what...three wives? In the United States, that's not something that's seen as ethical. :)

[Nemesis 0]

Hey there,

 

Well, it's true that Phlox did break what we'd consider an ethical guideline for medical techniques and practices. However, it can be said that he's from another species that may not hold true to such guidelines. Let's remember, he has what...three wives? In the United States, that's not something that's seen as ethical. B)

and each of his 3 wives have 3 husbands, now that must be a fun time at family reunions :), but also you have you account do the ends justify the means for I believe they followed the Vulcan principle the lives of the many outway the lives of the few :)

[ens_tino 0]

He always breaks ethical guidelines in medicine. He's Phlox, master of all medicines.

[Nemesis 0]

He always breaks ethical guidelines in medicine. He's Phlox, master of all medicines.

Thats not true he hardly ever breaks medical ethics and if you would notice he was one of the closest to Sim and it would've been very hard for him :)

[Travis Kroells 0]

Hey there,

 

Well, it's true that Phlox did break what we'd consider an ethical guideline for medical techniques and practices.

I think you should rephrase that to what you'd consider unethical, I dont have a problem with cloning.

[Nemesis 0]

Most people don't understand what cloning is they don't make full sized human clones they do make things that are not really alive that have organs that fit your genetic make up :)