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Uraniun235 wrote:

Darth Servo wrote:They did! In the 21st century (Encounter at Farpoint).

(during Q's mock trial)
Picard: ...kill all the lawyers
Q: And it was done.

or something to that effect.

Er, you do know that that could have been reversed at some point, right?

Of course I know that, and they have reversed it. In "Measure of a Man" and "First Duty" they had a legal system in place complete with counselors for the defense. However, they have gone to great lengths to purge much of present day society from their own.

ehh isssue scatterguns with flechette rounds to all stormtroopers

Not actually a bad idea, this is. The Federation relies on a technology base. When put on the defensive, with supplies limited, wounding attacks will cause progressively greater economic damage than outrigh deaths. Forcing your enemy to care for the wounded is an old tactic. In modern times, calibers have been altered to make guns less lethal at times and so force the enemy to care for now-useless troops.

Regardless, medical personnel do need to know how to use basic first aid, because even in the future, advanced technology may not be available. Supplies could run low, and its always good to understand alternatives. particularly on an important warship, the crew must be able to adapt to circumstances of a less-than-ideal character. In any event, immobilizing broken limbs is something EVERY doctor needs to know. You may not be able to get to your victim until late. He may have to be moved.

Frankly, if a UNSC medic (or one in any other SF universe most likely) said a splint wasn't medicine, he or she would either be shot for gross incompetence, or put through basic training over and over again until they got the message.