MEDICAL LOGS

RETROSPECT
Season 4 : Episode 85

 

MEDICAL REPORT:

The Doctor treats Kovin, an alien arms merchant, for a hairline fracture of the pre-maxilla bone, an injury inflicted by Seven.

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the Doctor treats Kovin

During a routine maintenance check-up on Seven, the Doctor's tricorder reads some increased engrammatic activity, and slightly elevated adrenalin levels which are consistent with a state of heightened tension. In a typical human the Doctor would consider this a mood swing, but with Seven's unique physiology he runs some scans wanting to rule out the possibility of a chemical imbalance.

routine maintenance check-up

But as the Doctor starts to examine her, Seven experiences, as the Doctor later reports to Janeway: "an episode of acute anxiety with all the trimmings: intense apprehension, shortness of breath, dizziness. I finally managed to sedate her." The Doctor tells Janeway he believes the problem is to do with memory repression - he detected a high concentration of biogenic amines in Seven's hippocampus blocking several portions of her memory centre. Treatment would involve integrating the repressed memories into Seven's consciousness, for which he says may be able to use a standard therapeutic regression technique. After receiving permission from Janeway to proceed, the Doctor explains to Seven prior to commencing: "A Jungian therapist would attempt to retrieve unconscious memories by exploring synchronicities in recent events. On the other hand, Amanin of Betazed would argue that a combination of sensory isolation and focussed breathing techniques would be more effective. I've integrated the finer points of both to create my own approach to memory reconstruction. First, putting you at ease by performing the treatment here, in your own environment (Cargobay 2). Once the cortical probes have reinforced the neural pathways, I'll use a directed imagery technique to guide you through the regression. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Now concentrate on the sound of my voice. Let go of the present, leave the cargo bay behind, allow yourself to drift. Describe the first image that enters your mind."

The "memories" that are brought to the surface cause Seven to accuse Kovin of assaulting her and stealing Borg nanoprobes from her body.

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the Doctor helps Seven to bring apparently repressed memories to the surface
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the "memories" - Kovin confines Seven and forcibly extracts Borg nanoprobes from her

While Janeway and the Voyager crew try to verify the events related by Seven, the Doctor, never doubting the veracity of her "memories", prompts Seven to allow herself to feel anger until she strongly desires Kovin to be punished for violating her.

Seven: "I believe I'm beginning to experience anger, anger toward Kovin." Doctor: "Good. That's a perfectly healthy, normal response, and when Kovin gets what he deserves you're going to feel much better."

Kovin is investigated by the Entharan magistrate, panics and flees.

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Kovin to Tuvok: "I trusted you. You said it would be an impartial investigation, but you're all determined to find what you want to find! Well, I'm not going to let this happen!" He transports to his ship.

Forensic tests show that Seven was mistaken. Instead her "repressed memories" are most likely images from her Borg experiences which she confused with her recent interaction with Kovin, and the so-called attack on her hand was due to the accidental overloading of the particle beam rifle. Seven claims the treatment of her hand, the one with the Borg implants, by a dermal regenerator (presumably non-Starfleet as she requests one of Kovin) was a lie but Kovin had earlier confirmed that he used one on Seven's injured hand. Tuvok's simulation of the incident reveals that the Borg nanoprobes regenerate spontaneously as seen in Kovin's laboratory and in a way that would be consistent with being caused by the energy released by a thoron weapon, i.e. as Kovin asserted.

Tuvok carries out the test and the Doctor views the result under the microscope

When Voyager pursues Kovin to explain the mistake, he believes it is a trap and dies when he accidentally overloads power on his ship, it destabilises and explodes. The Doctor and Seven feel remorse. The Doctor offers to have his program amended but is refused permission.

We see the Doctor performing the next week's routine maintenance check-up on Seven.

The Doctor opens a tricorder and scans her. "Metabolic rate is stable, electro-optic implant is aligned, your blood pressure is slightly off but within tolerance." He closes the tricorder. "You're in perfect health. See you next week."

OTHER MEDICAL DATA:

A medical tricorder is made of durantanium casing with an alphanumeric display. Its dimensions are 7.6 centimetres by 9.8 centimetres by 3.2 centimetres.

According to the Doctor, Amanin of Betazed would argue that a combination of sensory isolation and focused breathing techniques would be effective at opening up repressed memories.

The energy discharge from a thoron weapon can cause Seven's nanoprobes to regenerate even after they have left her body.

EMH SPECIFICATION:

The Doctor was not programmed with psychotherapeutic capabilities, but in the absence of a ship's counsellor he has been developing a psychiatric subroutine to add to his program.

DOCTOR'S LOG:

The Doctor has started helping Seven to improve her social skills - see entry for  [#84 Prey].

STAR TREK CONTEXTUAL MEDICAL GLOSSARY:

Dermal regenerator.

Medical tricorder. In this episode, Seven gives a brief physical description: "A medical tricorder: duritanium casing, 7.6 centimetres by 9.8 centimetres by 3.2 centimetres, alphanumeric display."

DOCTOR'S QUOTE:

To Seven, about her striking Kovin: "I hear there was some excitement this morning. When I started helping you improve your social skills, I'm fairly certain I didn't include a boxing lesson."