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Authors: Glenn Hauman
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except in a professional capacityâand lately, Iâve been getting reports you havenât even been doing that. I understand that youâve been letting the Emergency Medical Hologram do most of your patient work.
L: Yes, I have. Emmettâs supposed to learn procedure, and thereâs no other way to do that than to let him do the work, interacting with patients and situations in the field.
G: The specifications on this EMH gave him a huge medical database. Yes, it had the personality of a first-year resident, but that was to make it seem eager and helpful. Not burned out and abrasive.
L: Well, that may be what was planned. Heâs still rough around the edges. I believe he needed real-world experience, and Iâve been giving it to him. And to be fair, you donât have the expertise in the field to make that decision as to his medical skills and expertise.
G: Weâre digressing, Doctor. This isnât about the EMH. Itâs about you. Iâm beginning to think that
youâre
the one thatâs burned out.
L: I see.
G: You know, I have records here going all the way back to your time in the Academy. I have this glowing recommendation from the head of Starfleet Medical at the time, Dr. Crusher. Have you ever seen it?
L: No. I only took one class with her, then she went back to duty on the
Enterprise.
G: Let me quote: âElizabeth Lense is one of the fastest studies Iâve ever come across. Brilliant and incisive diagnosis â¦.â An outstanding school career, first in your class at the Academy, all of it leading to being appointed CMO of the
U.S.S.
Lexington
right out of Starfleet Medical. Unprecedented in Starfleet history in peacetime. A truly great honor ⦠and then you end up here.
L: Here? Captain Gold, the
da Vinci
is a fine shipâ
G: A damn fine ship, and thank you for the compliment. But after serving on the
Lexington,
with a crew complement of hundreds, this is a bit of a reduction of duties, wouldnât you say? Going down to a ship with only forty crewmembers? A ship so small you go from a suite of your own to sharing a room? A ship so small ⦠that it doesnât even have a shipâs counselor.
L: Pardon me, but could I take you up on that offer for a glass of water?
G: Certainly. You donât mind if I continue?
L: Could I stop you?
G: Not particularly.
L: Well. Go ahead, then.
G: Thank you. Computer, a glass of water, please. [Replicator hum.] Here you go.
L: Thank you, sir.
G: Now then, back to the matter at hand. Over the past few weeks, youâve been less and less engaged with this crew and with your duties. I noted that youâve been spending more time eating in sickbay than your quarters or the mess hall. Youâre in a bad way, Doctor, and itâs beginning to seriously affect your work.
L: Thatâs absurd.
G: You donât believe me? Gold to Emergency Medical Hologram.
EMH: Sickbay, Emmett here. May I help you, Captain?
G: Emmett, I need a diagnosis. Would you say that Dr. Lense has been behaving erratically lately? A little off-kilter?
L: Emmettâ
G: Pipe down, Doctor. Or else.
E: Captain, is Dr. Lense with you? Does she require medical assistance?
G: No, nothing at the moment. I was merely asking if sheâd seemed off-kilter to you.
E: Dr. Lense has seemed ⦠fatigued, lately. Somewhat listless. She has shown markedly diminished interest in almost all activities most of the day. I would suspect a degree of sleep disorder based on observation.
G: Your diagnosis?
E: Her symptoms are characteristic of a depressive episode. I couldnât attest to state of mind or causes without further examination.
G: Thank you.
E: Is there any other way I can be of assistance, Captain?
G: Not at this time. Gold out.
L: [Unintelligible] observant, Iâll give him that.
G: Well, Doctor? Do you disagree with your colleagueâs conclusion?
L: Heâs not a colleague, heâs a database with delusions of grandeur. A mechanic of
L: Yes, I have. Emmettâs supposed to learn procedure, and thereâs no other way to do that than to let him do the work, interacting with patients and situations in the field.
G: The specifications on this EMH gave him a huge medical database. Yes, it had the personality of a first-year resident, but that was to make it seem eager and helpful. Not burned out and abrasive.
L: Well, that may be what was planned. Heâs still rough around the edges. I believe he needed real-world experience, and Iâve been giving it to him. And to be fair, you donât have the expertise in the field to make that decision as to his medical skills and expertise.
G: Weâre digressing, Doctor. This isnât about the EMH. Itâs about you. Iâm beginning to think that
youâre
the one thatâs burned out.
L: I see.
G: You know, I have records here going all the way back to your time in the Academy. I have this glowing recommendation from the head of Starfleet Medical at the time, Dr. Crusher. Have you ever seen it?
L: No. I only took one class with her, then she went back to duty on the
Enterprise.
G: Let me quote: âElizabeth Lense is one of the fastest studies Iâve ever come across. Brilliant and incisive diagnosis â¦.â An outstanding school career, first in your class at the Academy, all of it leading to being appointed CMO of the
U.S.S.
Lexington
right out of Starfleet Medical. Unprecedented in Starfleet history in peacetime. A truly great honor ⦠and then you end up here.
L: Here? Captain Gold, the
da Vinci
is a fine shipâ
G: A damn fine ship, and thank you for the compliment. But after serving on the
Lexington,
with a crew complement of hundreds, this is a bit of a reduction of duties, wouldnât you say? Going down to a ship with only forty crewmembers? A ship so small you go from a suite of your own to sharing a room? A ship so small ⦠that it doesnât even have a shipâs counselor.
L: Pardon me, but could I take you up on that offer for a glass of water?
G: Certainly. You donât mind if I continue?
L: Could I stop you?
G: Not particularly.
L: Well. Go ahead, then.
G: Thank you. Computer, a glass of water, please. [Replicator hum.] Here you go.
L: Thank you, sir.
G: Now then, back to the matter at hand. Over the past few weeks, youâve been less and less engaged with this crew and with your duties. I noted that youâve been spending more time eating in sickbay than your quarters or the mess hall. Youâre in a bad way, Doctor, and itâs beginning to seriously affect your work.
L: Thatâs absurd.
G: You donât believe me? Gold to Emergency Medical Hologram.
EMH: Sickbay, Emmett here. May I help you, Captain?
G: Emmett, I need a diagnosis. Would you say that Dr. Lense has been behaving erratically lately? A little off-kilter?
L: Emmettâ
G: Pipe down, Doctor. Or else.
E: Captain, is Dr. Lense with you? Does she require medical assistance?
G: No, nothing at the moment. I was merely asking if sheâd seemed off-kilter to you.
E: Dr. Lense has seemed ⦠fatigued, lately. Somewhat listless. She has shown markedly diminished interest in almost all activities most of the day. I would suspect a degree of sleep disorder based on observation.
G: Your diagnosis?
E: Her symptoms are characteristic of a depressive episode. I couldnât attest to state of mind or causes without further examination.
G: Thank you.
E: Is there any other way I can be of assistance, Captain?
G: Not at this time. Gold out.
L: [Unintelligible] observant, Iâll give him that.
G: Well, Doctor? Do you disagree with your colleagueâs conclusion?
L: Heâs not a colleague, heâs a database with delusions of grandeur. A mechanic of
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