Stardate not given: Critically injured by falling containers in a cargo bay, Worf is paralyzed from the waist down, and Dr. Crusher can offer little in the way of hopes for complete recovery. The visiting Dr. Russell sees Worf’s injury as a perfect chance to test her new device, which can – in theory – replicate entire organs after scanning the DNA of the original. Crusher disagrees, however, citing Russell’s device as experimental at best, and refusing to allow Russell to operate. When Worf – claiming that life as an invalid would be a dishonorable burden to he and his family – begins to try to enlist Riker’s help in committing suicide, Crusher is forced to let Russell attempt to restore Worf’s spinal cord – an operation that could easily end the Klingon’s life, leaving many of the crew concerned for Worf as well as Alexander.
teleplay by Ronald D. Moore
story by Sara Charno & Stuart Charno
directed by Chip Chalmers
music by Dennis McCarthyCast: Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf), Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Caroline Kava (Dr. Russell), Brian Bonsall (Alexander), Patti Yasutake (Nurse Ogawa)
LogBook entry by Earl Green