Star Trek’s level of medical care is far more advanced than today’s. As Beckett says in LD, “Doc will wave a light over it.” Yet, in Star Trek people aren’t shown doing hobbies and pastimes that are much different from what’s done now. Still, I wonder about differences in a society where people know they won’t be laid up for months for doing or trying something that some folks of today might look at and say, “nope, too dangerous.” Injuries will still hurt, there’s a big difference between say, a broken leg taking months to heal and possibly multiple surgeries, and Star Trek’s healing of a broken leg in a matter of hours.
I’m trying to think of what I’d do differently if I had access to Star Trek level medical care. There are things I want to try, but I look at sideways because of the possible injuries. It’s mild, but one thing I think I’d try again is skating. I injured my knee roller skating at a rink years ago, and that knee is still a problem. That injury left me skittish of skating. If I knew an injury from skating (within reason) could be an easy fix, I would have given it another go.
Is there a pastime you’d be more willing to try, or try again, if Star Trek level medical care was available?
In that episode of the Orville, Gordon was able to get a new foot grown fast enough that it wasn’t really an issue.
In contrast, in TNG, Worf sustained an injury from a relatively minor industrial accident which left him paralyzed and could only be fixed by a radically dangerous and experimental medical procedure. In Voyager, Vidiians stole Neelix’s lungs and it took a Vidiian to alter one of Kes’s lungs to become compatible.
I don’t think the Federation’s medical technology is that advanced, especially with the banning of genetic manipulation.
Edit: And here I am forgetting about Nog’s amputated leg, which was not a perfect regrowing and caused Nog to experience phantom pain from his severed limb.
The Union’s medical technology is notably more advanced than the Federation’s, yes. Dr. Finn would have Pike up and walking in an afternoon.
The Union’s medical technology is notably more advanced than the Federation’s, yes. Dr. Finn would have Pike up and walking in an afternoon.