Dr. Crusher and giving orders

[tim0122]

A quick hierarchy/rank question. Dr. Crusher isn't in the command track, but she's a high ranking officer at commander. In an episode like Chain of Command where Picard is captured and it's just her and Worf, can she give Worf orders on non-medical issues? Or is Worf or Data or whoever above her in these cases even if they rank lower because they're in the command track?

 

[CoveTom]

In "The High Ground," when Worf assessed their security situation as vulnerable and tried to get her to leave, she overruled him and ordered him to retrieve medical supplies. Although there was a medical component to that situation, there was alao a security one, yet Worf -- as Chief of Security -- had to obey her orders.

 

[fireproof78]

A quick hierarchy/rank question. Dr. Crusher isn't in the command track, but she's a high ranking officer at commander. In an episode like Chain of Command where Picard is captured and it's just her and Worf, can she give Worf orders on non-medical issues? Or is Worf or Data or whoever above her in these cases even if they rank lower because they're in the command track?

Short answer would be "it depends." Since this was a covert operation mission the mission command structure might be different on a ship.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

In "The High Ground," when Worf assessed their security situation as vulnerable and tried to get her to leave, she overruled him and ordered him to retrieve medical supplies. Although there was a medical component to that situation, there was alao a security one, yet Worf -- as Chief of Security -- had to obey her orders.

How do you tell the difference between one's obligation to take orders and decision to take orders? It's easier to quit arguing when you know the other person won't be dissuaded and happens to be right.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

One made the decision to take orders when one entered the service. From then on, one is obligated to carry out lawful orders, even if they involve a suicide mission, but also obligated to disregard unlawful orders, even at the risk of being murdered by the one issuing those unlawful orders (and in the real world, there are now an awful lot of people who deserve court martial, incarceration, and dishonorable discharge for ignoring the latter obligation).

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I meant to say, how do you know that A taking orders from B is because B outranks A and not because A realizes he should probably do it anyway - it's the right thing to do. If B doesn't outrank A, but A wants/ought to do what B says and nobody higher has or will (be able to) tell him otherwise, A doesn't have to sit on his hands and wait for a superior's order that will never come, necessarily.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Let somebody who actually has military experience correct me if I'm wrong, but in the absence of anybody in the chain of command, superior rank becomes the de facto chain of command.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

So if the higher wishes to defer to the lesser (who might be an expert, unbiased, or thinking more clearly), and nobody's available to overrule it, that's the higher's privilege to do so.

 

[CoveTom]

Let's not forget also that Crusher was a bridge officer. She periodically had command during the night shift. She had gone through command training. She wasn't totally out of the command structure.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Let somebody who actually has military experience correct me if I'm wrong, but in the absence of anybody in the chain of command, superior rank becomes the de facto chain of command.

In either the real world, or Star Trek, it's all about killing Levar Burton.

Standing on his corpse, the rest of the crew know that they have to tow the line, or they are next.

Beverly would sacrifice the entire ship to rescue any version of Wesley younger than 15.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

it's all about killing Levar Burton.

 

[Guy Gardener]

The final test in the Bridge officers exam that Dee took on screen, that we all saw, required that Deanna save the ship by ordering one of her crewmen to sacrifice themselves for the good of the many. I don't suppose it's always Geordie that has to be murdered, every time anyone takes this exam on any ship ship in the fleet, but what if it were?

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[fireproof78]

Let somebody who actually has military experience correct me if I'm wrong, but in the absence of anybody in the chain of command, superior rank becomes the de facto chain of command.

Not in the military, and will defer to others, but technically this is correct, and also limited depending on the circumstances. In the US NAVY there are different types of officers, including limited line officers, unlimited line officers, and staff officers. Staff includes medical, dental, JAG, and other administrative positions. While a commander in the medical corps can wield substantial authority in their field if expertise, they are limited to that field unless placed in the chain of command.