I'm a doctor, not a...

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I'm a doctor, not a... is a famous catch phrase used in Star Trek. Originally used by Dr. Leonard McCoy in Star Trek: The Original Series, the phrase lived on in various other incarnations of Star Trek and was used by both Julian Bashir and The Doctor, among others. Dr. McCoy's original delivery of the phrase varied with emotional intensity, from extreme frustration to light-hearted sarcasm. Subsequent uses in later series also mirrored this performance. This iconic phrase has also appeared in other media as both a parody and homage to the show.

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[edit] Usage

[edit] Dr. Leonard McCoy

...to which Kirk replies, "You're a healer, there's a patient. That's an order."
This is an interesting statement since, in the episode "Court Martial", Doctor McCoy is called as an expert witness in space psychiatry.
...to which Montgomery Scott immediately replied, "Now, you're an engineer."
During one episode of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, DeForest Kelley spoke the line "I'm not a doctor, I'm a convicted murderer."

[edit] Dr. Julian Bashir

[edit] The Doctor

  • "I'm a doctor, Mr. Neelix, not an interior decorator." (VOY: "Phage")
  • "I'm a doctor, not a voyeur." (VOY: "Parturition")
  • "I shouldn't have to remind you: I'm a doctor..."
...interrupted by Torres: "...not an engineer. Right, but..." (VOY: "Prototype")
According to the official Robert Picardo website during Picardo's audition, the final scripted line for the reading was, "I believe someone has failed to terminate my program", and he finished his audition with the ad libbed "I'm a doctor, not a nightlight."

[edit] Dr. Phlox

[edit] Starfleet EMHs

[edit] Variants

[edit] The Original Series
James T. Kirk
"I'm a soldier, not a diplomat." (TOS: "Errand of Mercy")
"You keep saying that. Are you a doctor, or aren't you?" (TOS: "Amok Time")
"These are people, not robots." (TOS: "The Apple")
Karl Jaeger
"I'm a scientist, not a military man." (TOS: "The Squire of Gothos")
[edit] Deep Space Nine
Gaila
"I'm a weapons dealer, not a soldier." (DS9: "The Magnificent Ferengi")
Cardassian Security Officer
"This is a jail, not a hotel." (DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels")
Crewman Kellin
"I'm sorry captain, but I'm an engineer, not a magician." (DS9: "The Siege of AR-558")
Martok
"Why? You're a bartender, not a warrior." (DS9: "Shadows and Symbols")
Miles O'Brien
"I'm an engineer, not a philosopher." (DS9: "It's Only a Paper Moon")
Odo
"I'm a security officer, not a combat pilot." (DS9: "Vortex")
Benjamin Sisko
"He's not a detective, he's an engineer." (DS9: "Prodigal Daughter", about Miles O'Brien)
Douglas Pabst
"I'm a magazine editor, not a crusader." (DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars")
Julius Eaton
"Calm down dear boy. We're writers, not Vikings." (DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars")
Worf 
"I am a warrior, not a murderer." (DS9: "Broken Link")
[edit] Voyager
The Doctor 
"It's a sickbay, not a conference room." (VOY: "Caretaker")
"They're Klingons, not kittens." (VOY: "The Killing Game, Part II")
"This is sickbay, not an arsenal." (VOY: "Bliss")
"She's a counselor, lieutenant, not an engineer." referring to Deanna Troi (VOY: "Life Line")
"This is a sickbay, not a dormitory." (VOY: "Demon")
"This is a Federation starship, not the Barge of the Dead!" (VOY: "Repentance")
Diagnostic Hologram
"I'm a diagnostic tool, not an engineer." (VOY: "The Swarm")
(said of The Doctor): "It wasn't programmed to be a tenor, it was programmed to be a physician." (VOY: "The Swarm")
Tom Paris 
"I'm a pilot, Harry, not a doctor!" (VOY: "Message in a Bottle")
B'Elanna Torres 
"I'm an engineer, not a costume designer." (VOY: "Virtuoso")
Nechani Magistrate 
"I'm an official of the government, not a spiritual leader." (VOY: "Sacred Ground")

[edit] Apocrypha

Quark
"You're a doctor, not a gambler". (The Big Game)
Kira 
"I thought you were a doctor, not a hacker." (Proud Helios 260)
Miles O'Brien 
"Dr. Bashir, you're a doctor, not a first-contact specialist." (Valhalla 19)
McCoy 
"You're a doctor, not a Horta." (The Return 268) talking to Bashir.
EMH 
"I'm a doctor, not a computer." (Avenger 350)
EMH as McCoy 
"I'm a doctor, not an interior designer." (Avenger 351)
McCoy 
"I'm a doctor, not a sideshow." (Avenger 354)
EMH 
"I'm a doctor, not an archaeologist." (Wildfire 118)
EMH 
"I'm a doctor, not a concierge." (A Time to Sow 135)
EMH 
"I'm a doctor, NOT a Space Marine!" (Star Trek: Voyager: Elite Force)
EMH Mark II 
"I'm a doctor, not a quantum mechanic!" (Spectre 212)
Brex 
"Damn it Jim, I'm an engineer, not a conversationalist!" (Star Trek: Bridge Commander)

[edit] Related topics

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