Fix an episode --- The Mark of Gideon

They may have done, but it's pretty obvious that Zkirj has had his communicator removed by the Gideonites

 

The Defenders dealt with abortion much more directly in the 1962 episode "The Benefactor," more than half a decade before this.

Too bad that series isn't on DVD or Blu-Ray (or even streaming, for that matter).

 

Excellent point, Todd. Sure would've made sense to at least try it! As for the other way around... people aren't on board the ship, so it's only logical that Kirk would try reaching Spock, Scotty, Sulu, or anyone else by communicator... just to see if they're somewhere else.