Genetic Engineering, possible spoilers for certain episodes

[Tracy Trek]

In DS9's Dr. Bashir, I Presume, Bashir's parents are in trouble with the law for having his genetics tampered with when he was a child. Because he was developmentally disabled prior to the procedure, right? Now, how is that different from Voyager's EMH fixing baby Miral's spinal defect in utero? Was it because the Bashirs had his genetics modified beyond the point that would bring him up to normal development for his age?

Also do you think B'Elanna should have went to the brig for what she tried to do? Perhaps we are meant to infer that there were consequences, but they were never shown on-screen. Bashir's father had to go to prison for a while because of this issue.

 

[The Wormhole]

Dr. Bashir states in DBIP that genetic modification is allowed to correct "birth defects" which presumably is why it was okay to correct Miral Paris's spinal defect. The way I interpreted Bashir's modifications is that they really were unnecessary. His parents were ashamed because he was apparently "stupid" and their solution was to make him smarter through genetic engineering, which is certainly illegal.

Also do you think B'Elanna should have went to the brig for what she tried to do? Perhaps we are meant to infer that there were consequences, but they were never shown on-screen. Bashir's father had to go to prison for a while because of this issue.

In the end she didn't go through on genetically engineering her child, so there's nothing to punish on that matter. She did mess with the EMH program, which is both sabotaging Starfleet equipment and violating the rights of a sentient being. But presumably, the Doctor was understanding in the circumstances and decided to be lenient and chose not to press charges. B'Elanna might still have gotten a talking to from Janeway and or Chakotay but I doubt she got anything more serious than a written reprimand in her file, if anything.

 

[Tracy Trek]

His parents were ashamed because he was apparently "stupid" and their solution was to make him smarter through genetic engineering, which is certainly illegal.

So you're saying it was more a case of they didn't think he was smart enough. And rather than genetic engineering, maybe he was one of those kids that needed more of a one on one learning experience.

But presumably, the Doctor was understanding in the circumstances and decided to be lenient and chose not to press charges.

Doc may have forgiven, but maybe he didn't forget. I've always thought since she did reprogram him to get her way, he vented his frustration when he wrote his holonovel. He wrote her counterpart as a real bitch, although ironically a fully human one who threatens to reprogram his character.

 

[The Wormhole]

So you're saying it was more a case of they didn't think he was smart enough. And rather than genetic engineering, maybe he was one of those kids that needed more of a one on one learning experience.

That's my interpretation, yes.