Doctor by Doctor : Dr. Bashir in Deep Space 9

Abstract

THIS AUTHOR'S REVIEW of doctors in Star Trek has resulted in papers that deal with Drs. Boyce and Piper who appeared only once each, very early on in Star Trek: The Original Series and Dr. Helen Pulaski who appeared in one season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Star Trek: Deep Space 9 is eponymously based on an eponymously named space station and “Julian Bashir, [is] a cocky young physician who will serve as the station’s medical officer”. This paper will review this unique medic and will show that he is genetically engineered to superhuman capacities and therefore well fitted to the role of chief medical officer of this space station. However, the doctor was also deliberately designed to have failings – and to overcome them. Indeed, it is almost as if his gaucheness and brashness are used to counterbalance his mental and physical superiority, and only through a maturation process does he become a likeable person in his own right. “Bashir was supposed to be this arrogant hothead, this young turk”. From the very beginning, Bashir is depicted as fresh out of Starfleet Medical, graduated second in his class and a brilliant specialist in multispecies medicine. He arrives on DS9 with gung-ho expectations about adventures in Starfleet. He’s naive and charming and cocky all at the same time. He’s chosen this remote outpost instead of the cushy job that he was offered at Starfleet Medical because this is where the action is, where heroes are made, in the ‘wilderness.’ [He] is still wet behind the ears and has a lot to learn. He is the antithesis of [...] streetwise, [...] wiser, cynical [...] thinks he knows it all but in fact doesn’t. [...] when it comes to medicine he does know it all.