Where does the CMO rank in the chain of command?

[Master Six]

We've only seen two doctors take the bridge, and only Crusher was formally qualified to take the bridge.

Is it only a matter of rank and whether they have enough bridge hours, or do they also try to keep the CMO (and all other doctors) out of harm's way by putting them low on the list?

[Lord Revan]

We've only seen two doctors take the bridge, and only Crusher was formally qualified to take the bridge.

Is it only a matter of rank and whether they have enough bridge hours, or do they also try to keep the CMO (and all other doctors) out of harm's way by putting them low on the list?

It's less about keeping the CMO out of harms way and more about avoiding conflict of interest. The Chief Medical Officer is the only person who can relive the captain from duty (due to medical reason but still) and SFHQ wants to avoid accusation that the CMO made the captain step down to get him/her self to the big seat.

BTW Crusher is a commander, McCoy was a Lieutenant Commander during TOS, Bashir was a Lieutenant, Phlox was a civilian, Culber is a Lieutenant Commander and the Doctor is a SF AI and therefore has no formal rank. All who wouldn't have the rank to take command are Phlox and possibly the Doctor.

[Q99]

A Doctor can gain command rank, but usually don't, I'd think. They're usually in the chain of command, especially in larger ships where they're running a department.

Future Crusher gains her own ship command.

[B5B7]

In real world navies CMOs are often commanders , but they are NEVER in the chain of command.

[Eternal_Freedom]

There was mention of Crusher having taken the Bridge Officer's exam, and Troi was able to as well (gah). Presumably it's a case of whether the CMO wants to, and if they pass it then they can be in the chain of command - presumably this is how Scotty and Geordi were able to take command at various points (including a full Captaincy in a future timeline for la Forge).

I would imagine that if the CMO is qualified then they can be included in the chain of command at the Captain's discretion - most likely below lower-ranked but command-line officers.

[Lord Revan]

There was mention of Crusher having taken the Bridge Officer's exam, and Troi was able to as well (gah). Presumably it's a case of whether the CMO wants to, and if they pass it then they can be in the chain of command - presumably this is how Scotty and Geordi were able to take command at various points (including a full Captaincy in a future timeline for la Forge).

I would imagine that if the CMO is qualified then they can be included in the chain of command at the Captain's discretion - most likely below lower-ranked but command-line officers.

I assume that certain branches would have to pass the "bridge officer's exam" to get to the higher ranks, while a medical officer might able to get to admiral without even taking it.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Indeed. Good old Bones would be a good example of the latter, as IIRC he made Admiral while never being a line officer.

[Batman]

We know that Bones made Admiral. We have no idea how he did it far as I can tell. I don't recall any details of his career between TOS and TNG ever being mentioned, one way or the other.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Fair point.

[Elheru Aran]

Presumably Bones made Admiral mostly by virtue of seniority; IIRC he wasn't referred to as "Admiral McCoy" until TNG, so it was in the course of normal upward movement through rank, not for any particular exceptional reason.

Crusher's captaincy was of a medical/scientific ship, specificially; so presumably Starfleet in the alt-future Q envisioned had expanded enough to have such single-purpose ships, and it makes some sense for the head of such a craft to also be the top medical staffer aboard.

I want to say there was at least one or two episodes in TNG where they left Crusher in charge on the ship while Picard and Riker both went on away missions, something along those lines, but I haven't watched enough (and it's been awhile) to really say.

For my input to the chain of command question: I have no issue with the CMO being separate from the chain of command, but part of it if he/she/it does qualify. And of course there's always the dramatic ability to remove officers for medical reasons, which having a certain degree of rank does make easier-- wouldn't look the best if a LTJG CMO busted an Admiral, even if it was for completely good reasons.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Descent is the TNG episode you're referring to I believe. There have been another option but I can't recall any directly.

[Batman]

You believe correctly.
Descent I and II had Crusher in command because most of the crew including the command staff were planetside looking for Data

[Crazedwraith]

Crusher and LaForge both have the rank to command but no formal place in the line of succession as it were. (Crusher even less so than LaForge probably)

In Gambit when Picard/Riker are absent, Data is acting Captain with Worf, only a senior lieutenant is his XO. I've forgotten who he suggests could replace Worf is that doesn't work out though.

[Lord Revan]

Presumably Bones made Admiral mostly by virtue of seniority; IIRC he wasn't referred to as "Admiral McCoy" until TNG, so it was in the course of normal upward movement through rank, not for any particular exceptional reason.

Crusher's captaincy was of a medical/scientific ship, specificially; so presumably Starfleet in the alt-future Q envisioned had expanded enough to have such single-purpose ships, and it makes some sense for the head of such a craft to also be the top medical staffer aboard.

I want to say there was at least one or two episodes in TNG where they left Crusher in charge on the ship while Picard and Riker both went on away missions, something along those lines, but I haven't watched enough (and it's been awhile) to really say.

For my input to the chain of command question: I have no issue with the CMO being separate from the chain of command, but part of it if he/she/it does qualify. And of course there's always the dramatic ability to remove officers for medical reasons, which having a certain degree of rank does make easier-- wouldn't look the best if a LTJG CMO busted an Admiral, even if it was for completely good reasons.

That "wouldn't look the best if a LtJg CMO busted an admiral" is why in real life (at least in the finnish defense force when I was serving) all doctors were automatically officers.

I suspect that specialist roles might have ranks given for expertise in that role rather then military prestige, so a CMO of a major starship could be a lt. commander or a full commander but that rank was given due being a experienced doctor and they would have to qualify for "command roles" seperately.

As for Medical ship, honestly I wouldn't be at all surpriced if SF had specialized hospital ships to respond to crisis but we just don't normally see those as we aren't in places those ships would be used in.

[Agent Fisher]

As for Medical ship, honestly I wouldn't be at all surpriced if SF had specialized hospital ships to respond to crisis but we just don't normally see those as we aren't in places those ships would be used in.

In DS9, Bashir heads to Romulus for a medical summit during the Dominion War, one of the topics was goign to be to decide wether to transfer 25 hospital ships to the Romulan Fleet, so I'm guessing they have quite a number of hospital ships.

[FaxModem1]

As for Medical ship, honestly I wouldn't be at all surpriced if SF had specialized hospital ships to respond to crisis but we just don't normally see those as we aren't in places those ships would be used in.

In DS9, Bashir heads to Romulus for a medical summit during the Dominion War, one of the topics was goign to be to decide wether to transfer 25 hospital ships to the Romulan Fleet, so I'm guessing they have quite a number of hospital ships.

Makes sense, the US Navy has had a number of them in their fleet. It only makes sense, especially with the amount of relief missions that Starfleet does, that they have them as well.