# Why a Doc in sci-fi? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 29, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-doc-in-sci-fi/541143 "2010-05-29T03:56:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![enigmatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@enigmatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enigmatic)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-doc-in-sci-fi/541143/21 "2010-05-31T06:34:48Z")
It shows that they are genre savvy. They know that there is at least a 25% chance of some bizarre medical emergency occurring on each mission and that the doctor as a key character is functionally indestructible šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-doc-in-sci-fi/541143/22 "2010-05-31T07:11:06Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Thereā€™s an in-story explanation in many of the Trek novels. (Or at least there used to be; I havenā€™t read a new one this decade.) Diane Duane and Vonda McIntyre mentioned such a thing as first-contact clearance, which the majority of the officers and crew would not have. It wouldnā€™t surprise me if among the four hundred or so company of Kirkā€™s Enterprise, only a fraction were authorized to beam down to an inhabited planet not part of the Federation. But that doesnā€™t explain all the trips to uninhabited or federation outposts where the captain, science officer and doctor HAD to be in the landing party. ---
**Author:** ![Radishes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@Radishes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Radishes)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-doc-in-sci-fi/541143/23 "2010-06-01T17:51:24Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Why a doc? Why a-no chicken? Or why a-horse? Why not a-Ford? But I was only fooling. Theyā€™re going to build a tunnel in the morning. (Sorry, but for those of you who may not know, itā€™s an old Marx Brothers routine. Thanks, Jayjay!) Radishes ---
**Author:** ![Radishes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@Radishes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Radishes)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-doc-in-sci-fi/541143/24 "2010-06-01T18:02:42Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Also, a doctor is a profession that everyone is familiar with and it helps ground the series in some level of reality, giving viewers a point of reference. As for this point, it occurred to me the same role could be filled in FP and probably in other fiction by the cook. I noticed in FP the cook was the only one who didnā€™t wear the starship uniform, until he was being reprimanded. But others make a very good point, in that the doctor was more on the level of the captain, and could be counted on to be a sounding board since he didnā€™t know all the details of the ship operation. However, the doc on ā€œThe Love Boatā€ was there for the romantic angle and some lame comedy. I havenā€™t read Patrick Oā€™brienā€™s books, so I am surprised there was a doc there, too. But it should be considered that FP could very well have a basis for his doc, if he, as a child, had seen it. Radishes ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-doc-in-sci-fi/541143/25 "2010-06-01T19:35:25Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I can see why FP did it ā€“ the Doctor was clearly supposed to be the Intellectual. Morbius recognizes him as such, and loses few opportunities to tell the Captain that he thinks heā€™s a dunce. I concur: ā€œA Commanding Officer doesnā€™t need intelligence, just a good loud voice.ā€ šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-doc-in-sci-fi/541143/26 "2010-06-01T19:40:24Z")
> [@](#): > > I concur: ā€œA Commanding Officer doesnā€™t need intelligence, just a good loud voice.ā€ Thatā€™s just the most obvious example. Morbius rides Commander J.J. Adams throughout the movie. Iā€™m surprised Adams didnā€™t pop him one. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-doc-in-sci-fi/541143/27 "2010-06-01T19:50:33Z")
Note, though, that the Captainā€™s intelligence did measure out as being significantly above human average. Itā€™s only in comparison to the Doctor, and, of course, Morbius, that heā€™s unintelligent. And cooks are relatable, but theyā€™re also low-class. The cook in Forbidden Planet was the Trinculo equivalent, more of a fool than a hero. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-doc-in-sci-fi/541143/28 "2010-06-01T20:30:32Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Iā€™m surprised Adams didnā€™t pop him one. Or have a Formidable Sidearm Cleaning Accident. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-doc-in-sci-fi/541143.md?page=1)