(text) un: j.watson,

[enarms]

Hello. John Watson here.

I've met some of you already but for the rest I'd like to introduce myself as a doctor. I'm from Earth, 2012, I'm a fully qualified surgeon as of that year and familiar with medicine from that time period. If you'd rather not go to Lysa, please get in contact if you ever need medical attention. For the time being I'll be treating anyone for serious problems at the Station, but in the event of an emergency or something minor I can come to you.

Those of you I treated the other night, if you could check in that would be great.

Thanks. Hope we're all doing alright after that nightmare.




I'd also be interested to talk to anyone with medical experience about their thoughts on Lysa's methods from what they've seen so far. Cheers.

Comments

un: Mercy

[valcurie]

What kind of medicine did you practise in 2012, Dr Watson?

( It would be nice if it weren't another version of magic that's Apparently Real, or actual homeopathy )

[enarms]

Practical. In my case, my main experience is in trauma medicine, but I'm qualified as both surgeon and GP.

If you're more accustomed to this world's approach, 2012 Earth relies more on hands, heads, tools and science than swallowing a bottle of something and hey presto.

[ question of the hour: does this explanation sound as tired as I feel ]

[valcurie]

( Admittedly she could have approached it a bit better, but she's been told recently about good old-fashioned barber surgeons. Regardless. Maybe she can help with that. )

Your experience is similar to mine! Originally I started out in surgery, but my research and circumstances have pushed me closer to GP over the years.

As for this world's approach, it's completely barbaric in my professional opinion. 2012 is a few decades behind what I'm used to, but this place does make penicillin seem like even more of a miracle than it ever seemed on Earth. I do think that some of this 'magic' shows potential promise but I would like to stop homeopathic alchemists as soon as possible.

[enarms]

[ !!!! blessed day, somebody who speaks some sort of comprehensible sense ]

That's roughly the way things have moved for me too. I trained as a surgeon, spent a year in Afghanistan with the RAMC and since coming home have been picking up locum work mostly. I'll admit it's not where my passion lies but it's been a living.

I agree. How they've managed to establish a society here without even accidentally stumbling onto the basics of scientific medicine is beyond me. And leaving people with untrained strangers while they suffered through the side-effects? I'd be interested to get the medicines [ he refuses to type 'potion' he's not doing it ] she used into a lab with someone who knows how to test them, see what the ingredients are and what everything's actually supposed to be doing.

I have a feeling we'll have our work cut out for us here.

[valcurie]

Ah, I was recently in that part of the world. After the UN-backed peacekeeping Organisation I was a part of disbanded, I joined an NGO, similar to MSF in your time, and found my way to Iraq. I've always just wanted to save lives, so I was happy with the work I was doing. ( a bit of a story, but it's nice to share it with someone who understands, at least a little. )

It's a good question, to be sure. I am interested in analysing them as well because from my own experience I would guess there's some highly potent neurotoxins in that medicine. Much stronger than other natural substances I've seen! They did have restorative properties so perhaps there's something worth salvaging, in lieu of medicines we no longer have access to. I had to study biological chemistry extenstively in my own field, so I would like to help as well.

Hopefully it won't be an entirely thankless job, but I do feel like we really can make a difference. Would you ever be interested in opening a clinic on the planet for the natives?

[enarms]

[ oh! despite everything, the mentioned intervening decades, the familiarity in the story is something of a comfort. it's good to know there's somebody here who's seen a world similar to the one he's known from a likewise similar perspective. for whom his world is history, but nonetheless existed. who likewise entered into danger to help heal. ]

Small world.

[ this one. that one. the universe and years in between. in other words, good to meet you. ]

Definitely worth taking a look at. If my friend would bother to wake up out of stasis he's a chemist and could help us out. But he hasn't, so he can't. I'm not a lot of use in a lab but I've learned to be an alright assistant, if you'd feel confident running the analysis? We could ask around a bit for any other chemists interested in taking a look, see if there are any facilities down here or poke around up on the ship. You're right, if there's any chance of working on newer medicines without the side-effects, we should take them. Relying solely on resources from the Station might be a danger in the long term.

Potentially, yeah. If we could ever find the funding. Can't imagine for a minute anyone would come to us over Lysa if they had to pay just as much, and those who can't shouldn't have to.

[valcurie]

So it is. My name is Angela Ziegler. It is a pleasure, Dr Watson. ( She smiles when she types that out. Colleague, fellow, and reminder of one of her favourite characters growing up. She was always a fan of Watson's rationalism, found him the more human of the pair in the stories told about them. )

A shame. I hope he wakes up soon. In the meantime, I suggest we look amongst us and see if there isn't anyone more qualified. To be honest with you, it's been at least six years since I worked in a properly equipped lab, so I am, a bit rusty, I think is the expression? In any case our hosts are gracious but I have learnt that resources and kindness often come with a price sooner or later. If we can develop our own methods and become self-sufficient, or at least independent, that would be best.

I like the way you think! I was thinking about the options available at the moment, and I think it may be of some benefit to have someone go to work in her clinic to start with.

[enarms]

Likewise. And just John's fine. [ there doesn't seem the need for titles amongst mutually spacestuck medical professionals. any opportunity for familiarity is one he'll gun for. ]

A search for a chemist it is then. There are a couple of people I can think to ask to check their networks, I'll keep you posted if anything comes from it.

That's not a bad idea. It'll be worth seeing if we can ask her for a consultation too, get a feel for whether or not she'll be supportive of our methods, if there's common ground to be found. If we can work with her rather than against her that'll probably be for the best.

[valcurie]

John, then. Angela for me. Or Mercy. Just not ma'am! ( Remind her too much of less happier times. )

It is appreciated. I have a few leads to check out, so I will be sure to check back in with you if I can find someone or a suitable location to fit our needs.

I do not know if healers here have to take an oath before working, but she did strike me as someone who genuinely wants to do her best. I would be happy to talk to her and try to appeal to her about adjusting her methods. Updating seems a little harsh, perhaps? If she is already so well-loved and respected. And the whole 'we can't reveal the truth!!' bit. Technology described as magic it is, I suppose. I also don't mind testing some of her potions as I have a way to make myself rather hard to kill.

[enarms]

Mercy? That's got to have a tale to tell.

If you're happy to meet with her that sounds great. I'm not the best when it comes to tact and you seem to have all angles covered there. Sure that's wise though? Re: testing? The side-effects of the ones we've seen aren't worth suffering through, God knows what any others might do.

[ rather hard to kill? later, he'll ask about that later. first thing's first, concerns over human testing. ]

[valcurie]

It's an aspiration, and a reminder. Mercy is something that even the strongest heroes need from time to time, I think.

I've had some interesting patients over the years to help me develop my bedside manner. I am sure I can handle one well-meaning woman. But you make a good point. I don't exactly think of myself as the next Salk, and I won't be so unwise as to do it without any foresight! I am just thinking what to do in the case that we find something that might be worth the effects, or actually is worth the effects. Given the state of things I would prefer to use myself as a final test before giving my patients anything. I also fear that some might not take their medicine unless it can be proven to be safe to them. I can't blame them for that.

[enarms]

[ o-oh... well that's more goodness in two sentences than he knows how properly to respond to, he was ready for some re-telling of Friendly Field Banter. moving swiftly on but logging it in the character assessment file a h]

That's a fair point, we're going to need to run tests eventually, possibly at multiple points in the process. It's a bit of a way down the line at least. Shall we wait to talk about it until we can meet in person? Might be an easier medium.

[valcurie]

( LOL sorry she just kind of does that sometimes, it can be pretty obnoxious tbh. it's a wonder anyone can just shrug off her doctorly advice when she gives it. maybe if she were less of a nag? )

Of course. It's just something to note for now. The best thing we could do right now is take proper stock of what we can actually do before setting any goals. I look forward to our meeting. Up on Thesa, perhaps? I think we'll need a cup of espresso or two.

[enarms]

Thesa and plenty of caffeine sounds ideal. Sometime in the next couple of days?

[valcurie]

Sounds like a date! I'll let you know if a time doesn't work.

wow, holy Lost This In My Inbox, batman

[enarms]

Great. I'll get myself sorted and let you know.

[ ooc: would you like to log this? I can set up a top-level in my catch all if you do fancy :> ]

[valcurie]

All right, doctor, I will expect you to have your head on straight. In the meantime I'll look into gathering some 'medicine.'

[ ooc: sure, that'd be lovely. <3 ]