Tauren gave a small nod of acknowledgement. “I took advanced fieldwork in orthopedic surgery and emergency trauma myself during my internship. On my previous assignment, I was the entire medical staff for a new colony being established, and as such I was essentially a general practitioner, as well as a dentist and psychiatrist, and occasionally a beast of burden. I may have been more successful at the latter than as a psychiatrist, however.” He stood and motioned towards the replicator. “If I may, sir?” He then addressed the replicator. “One mug of Vulcan Mocha, mild, 45 degrees.”

Ensign Tauren

Pongo had been nodding along, and listening intently, when the Ensign asked about using the replicator Pongo went wide eyed, and looked disconcerted. “Of course, where are my manners?” It sounded as if the new Doctor was indeed well versed in his field, Pongo expected nothing less, from a Starfleet Officer, or a Vulcan for that matter. “Well we have a well versed Mental Health Staff aboard the Odin, so we won’t worry about your Psychiatric skills. We have plenty of bumbling ensigns and junior grade Lieutenants that will enjoy your skills as an Orthopedic however. Always bumps and scrapes to go around. I will transfer you a list of our most closely watched patients with ongoing or major illnesses that we have to monitor so you can become acquainted with their conditions. Any Questions?” Pongo asked his smile returning.

Lt Cmdr Pongo Bubbles, MD, CMO

“Indeed,” Tauren said, before taking a very small sip of his coffee. He stared off into the middle distance for a moment, lost in thought, before returning his focus to his Chief. “I would like to pose two seperate inquiries, if I might?” He took another sip.

“First, I have noted that while my technical skills are satisfactory, I have received negative commentary regarding my bedside manner at times. Some of this may be simply due to the mild prejudice some people have regarding my people as being insufficiently empathic towards the pain of others, but I am concerned that some of it may in fact be legitimate. There is, for instance, conflicting data on the principle that a patient’s level of hope for recovery may improve outcomes, even when that hope is entirely illogical in its basis. Would you have any particular insight on that? Is it, in your opinion, unethical to give a strictly accurate prognosis to a patient whose prognosis is negative?”

He grabbed for his mug again before continuing. “And second, perhaps related, you have clearly achieved a level of success in this profession; being named a Chief Medical Officer on a Federation Starship is a fairly prestigious position, after all. Would you have any particular advice for a practitioner who is relatively early in his career?”