Synopsis: Lt. Worf is severely injured and he and the crew wrestle with different cultural beliefs around death and medical treatment.
In this episode the “Ethics” involved therein deal with some of the most fundamental beliefs in our culture concerning medical care, death, friendship, and disability.
Lt. Worf, being a Klingon, immediately asks his friend Commander William Riker to aid him in the ceremonial suicide ritual of Heghbat, which is what Klingon warriors do in order to not be a burden to their families.
Dr. Beverly Crusher is forced to work with another medical officer, Dr. Toby Russell, who is much more experimental in her approach to medicine, meaning there is much greater risk to the patient. Dr. Crusher wants to use a safer, more traditional approach to healing Worf’s injuries.
Riker is forced to confront his own feelings about aiding a friend in suicide, something culturally significant to Worf, but against his beliefs.
Worf’s son, Alexander, wants to see his dad. It falls to Counselor Deanna Troi to tell him his father does not want Alexander to see him in his weakened condition.
All these opposite positions are being acted out on the Enterprise much as polar opposites are always present in our psyche. In the Enterprise, it falls to Captain Jean-Luc Picard, as the commander, to try to make all the different concerns of his crew work together. Picard tells Riker that Worf would not have asked this of him if he did not truly think he could do it. Picard also tells Dr. Crusher that if Worf wants to do the procedure she should honor his wishes, in spite of the risk. In the psyche, it is the conscious ego that is in command of our consciousness.
But unlike Starfleet officers, our unconscious cannot be commanded by the conscious ego. However, when the conscious ego acknowledges bits of unconscious material and integrates it into itself, soul is made. In “Ethics” arguably the most soulful scene is one that does not involve Picard or orders, it is when Worf addresses his son, Alexander, and asks for his help in healing. A bond, a soulful connection is made at this moment. And not incidentally, Worf begins the process of becoming more whole.
Original post created 12 October 2021
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