"I swear this oath by Apollo Physician by Aesculapius, by Health, and by all the gods and goddesses in whatsoever place that I enter, I will enter to help the sick and heal the injured. And I will do no harm."

– The Doctor (VOY: "Darkling")

A physician, also known as a medical doctor or medical practitioner, is an individual, typically a doctor, who practices in the field of medical science. It is a physician's duty to save the lives of ailing patients, while at the same time preserve the life of healthy patients. (TOS: "The Enterprise Incident"; VOY: "Tuvix", "Retrospect", "Survival Instinct"; ENT: "Fortunate Son")

As a physician, Beverly Crusher explained that "it's often my job to give people unpleasant news, to tell them they need surgery, or they can't have children, or that they might be facing a difficult illness." (TNG: "All Good Things...") It is also a requirement of a medical practitioner to have a certain sensitivity to properly address a patient. (VOY: "Parallax")

During the 22nd century, the Xindi trained their physicians through use of biometric holograms. (ENT: "The Council")

In 2152, there were over one million physicians on Vulcan. (ENT: "Stigma")

When T'Pol proposed that Captain Archer needed a doctor in 2154 to remove the katra from his mind, T'Pau told her that he didn't need a physician but a priest. (ENT: "Kir'Shara")

Related topicsEdit

• Doctor of Medicine
• Emergency medical technician
• Hippocratic Oath
• Medic
• Surgeon
• Veterinarian
• Vulcan Council of Physicians

External linkEdit

• Physician at Wikipedia