Television Review: Ethics (Star Trek: The Next Generation, S5X16, 1992)

Ethics (S05E16)

Airdate: 2 March 1992

Written by: Ronald D. Moore
Directed by: Chip Chalmers

Running Time: 46 minutes

Recent statistics from Canada, where five percent of all deaths are results of euthanasia, legalised only a decade prior to the episode's production, illustrate how modern Western societies can accept certain concepts that were until that time very controversial. Star Trek, a franchise that always looked to the future and didn’t shy away from controversies, touched that thorny subject in its past, notably in TNG Season 5 episode aptly titled “Ethics”. The episode aimed high, but didn’t exactly reach its lofty targets, presenting a narrative that was ambitious in scope yet flawed in execution.

The plot revolves around the aftermath of the accident that occurred at the beginning of the episode in the Enterprise’s cargo bay. A huge barrel falls down and hits Worf, leaving him incapacitated. He wakes up in sickbay and slowly realises that he can’t feel his legs. Dr. Crusher tells him that his spinal chord is crushed and that he became paralysed. Worf is devastated with the news and demands that he be treated in line with Klingon tradition that mandates that such cripples be left to die, or, in his case, take opportunity for perform Hegh’bat, or ritual suicide.

Worf’s intention appals almost anyone on board; Crusher points out that with various neural implants and through time of therapy Worf could restore some of the mobility and live a normal life. Worf, however, insists on Hegh’bat because life in which he can’t be true Klingon warrior isn’t his life. This creates a profound cultural clash, forcing the Federation’s medical ethics to confront a warrior’s code of honour.

The situation is complicated with an arrival of Dr. Toby Russell (played by Caroline Kava), expert neurologist who was brought from USS Potemkin to assist Dr. Crusher in this form of injury. Russell is known for devising new experimental procedure – genetronic replicator – that would have allowed patients to get new and healthy spine; yet, the procedure is extremely risky, with Worf most likely to die on operating table. Furthermore, Russell is also known for rather lax approach to medical ethics, which becomes apparent when USS Enterprise becomes involved with rescue mission with USS Denver, spaceship hit by graviton mine left during Cardassian War. Enterprise is uses its medical facilities to treat 500 casualties; Russell uses this opportunity to experiment on patients, using new procedure that claims a life that would have been saved by regular means. Dr. Crusher is incensed and bans Dr. Russell from medical practice on Enterprise.

In the meantime, Worf’s desire to die makes Riker angry, unlike Picard, who finds some understanding for his point of view. Worf explains that he doesn’t want to see his son Alexander to see him as a cripple; but it is exactly Alexander that Riker uses as an argument to make his friend change his mind. According to Klingon’s tradition, Heg’bath should be in performed presence of a family, and that duty falls to Alexander. This is too much for Worf who doesn’t want young boy to take part and agrees to take part in Dr. Russell’s experimental procedure. The operation succeds and Worf ends episode on the road to full recovery; yet, Dr. Crusher notices that Dr. Russell was merely lucky this time.

The episode was based on the concept developed by Stuart and Sara Charno, and written by Ronald D. Moore, one of the most celebrated Star Trek authors who would later claim that the process of writing this episode was very difficult. Ethics was, by taking this controversial theme, made TNG look very brave for its time; the script took it, on superficial level, very seriously, allowing for both sides of debate to present their arguments, although Moore took very safe position, with euthanasia looking like a pointless and very selfish solution for the technologically advanced world of 24th century and very selfish for the character who is supposed to serve Federation and take care for young son. The script is further muddled by the arrival of Dr. Russell who adds another issue – medical ethics – to the mix, and even more by very convenient side storyline that fills Enterprise with hundreds more cases to explore that very issue. The character of Dr. Russell seems very one-dimensional and waste of talents for Caroline Kava, one of the more interesting actresses of her generation.

The main problem for the episode is in its manipulative nature, especially during the end when Worf appears to be dead following the procedure only to be miraculously revived in presence of Alexander who was brought to pay respects. Idea that Worf, a regular iconic and very popular character would actually die or be permanently crippled was something difficult to imagine for viewers during the original Season 5 run, so there wasn’t any actual suspense.

What ultimately saves this episode is excellent acting, especially in the case of Jonathan Frakes who simply shines in the scene where Riker angrily confronts Worf over his choices. The performance elevates the material, providing the emotional weight that the script struggles to generate through its narrative construction.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

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