Wouldn't it be weird?After all,MDs are not PhDs
Why dose Starfleet medical and science share a common uniform configuration?
- Thread starter SS.Scientific
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I would prefer Medical in White while Science in Blue
As reflected by the fact that in the twenty-third century medical officers also have the science division's "eye" within their chest insignia.
I'm pointedly ignoring that a few medical officers had a red cross in their insignia on TOS.
I'm pointedly ignoring that a few medical officers had a red cross in their insignia on TOS.
Yes, but it's a division that involves the running of the ship - maintaining/repairing crew members' health. Imagine if engineering, also a science, also wore blue regularly. Studying plants or quasars is something a crew member can do on a day-to-day/assignment-to-assignment basis, but it's the same as the everyday tasks that keep the ship and its crew well-maintained.
(Did Charlene Masters wear a blue uniform so she wouldn't be confused with Uhura? Supposedly, she was originally a "chemoscientists" in the "The Alternative Factor" ' s original script, so science dept - maybe they didn't change the costume assignment. Or, more likely, recrystallizing dilithium is a more chemistry (perhaps geology) related task than repairing the warp core itself)
There is "medicine", and then there is "medical science". The former is the practitioner that treats patients, while the latter is the medical researcher. Presumably, Starfleet has combined the two sub-division as a practicality, or one subdivision can specialize, one person can serve dual functions. Kind of like having a PhD and an MD, rather than just the MD or the PhD. As for the uniforms: it would be impractical to have two uniforms, especially if you are on an away team/landing party, so having blue as the standard would work best.
Current US Military personnel (yes, yes, I know) wear the same uniform on duty, save for scrubs or other protective garments in the course of their duties. Seems to work ok.
The same reason security and engineering share an uniform, it saved on the costume budget and they kept it out of legacy.
I've always believed that less is more and that three branch colors was more than enough. It's a different story aboard an aircraft carrier where there can be low visibility on the flight deck, but I don't think that's necessary in well-lit starship corridors. Sure, medical personnel can have variant uniforms for sickbay or while in an operating room, but I prefer they stay in sciences blue otherwise.
I definitely think medical should be its own distinct color, and it's one detail from modern Trek that I appreciate. Medical, security, and command should all be wearing distinct colors that make them easy to pick out in a crowd. In a crisis, those three are the ones you'll most want to look for.
Discovery changed it where medical wears the traditional white that's been associated with medicine. And that holds in the 32nd century too.
Interesting enough, the practice of doctors and nurses wearing white uniforms has largely been phased out (except for the white coats of doctors), since it was found hours upon hours of having bright white clothing in medical settings with white walls and bright lights caused eye strain. Also, the appearance of blood against white clothing caused more tension with patients.
Interesting enough, the practice of doctors and nurses wearing white uniforms has largely been phased out (except for the white coats of doctors), since it was found hours upon hours of having bright white clothing in medical settings with white walls and bright lights caused eye strain. Also, the appearance of blood against white clothing caused more tension with patients.
I've fine with there only being three uniform colours, but one of the neat concepts from TOS that was never entirely realised was the potential for badges to showcase specialisms within each community similar to how several services (including the US Navy NCO enlisted and NCO community) do it in reality, for example all sciences personnel would wear blue (which appears to be at least an option for medical personnel in SNW if not DSC) but an "astrosciences" officer like Spock would wear a different badge (which would also be worn by non-Bridge Officer rated navigation department personnel) than "life sciences" officers which could also be different than that worn by medical personnel like McCoy, M'Benga and Chapel.
Sorry I should have been more clear.
I am firmly entrenched in the “I don’t give a crap” camp.
And frequently (at least in episodes, and unless you have a ship with a "medical research mission") the reason for the research is directly tied to somebody who has the condition being studied and needs help now. So the same person/people handle both.
Oh is that why scrubs are more colorful?
It's also more cheerful (or fun, in the case of pediatric staff - they wear ones with cartoon characters on them)
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