A Brief Guide to Brig Physican

[Someonewithapen]

Congratulations, you have chosen, or have been chosen, to participate in Nanotrasen's new Medical officer position. This handy dandy guide is here to guide you throughout most, if not all, of the struggles you will encounter throughout your new, exciting medical career. 

Your job as a Brig Physician, often referred to as Brig Medic or Corpsman, is to maintain the well being of Cyberiad security personnel, as well as any crew members or captured enemies who may be staying in the station's prison facilities. Considering the many dangers that may come with being out in unmonitored space (See your Nanotrasen pamphlet on Identifying Enemies of the Corporation for more details) you may think you will have your work cut out for you, but fret not Corpsman, as a cool head and a steady hand are key to a safe and efficient shift.

Before beginning your first shift, it is recommended you review NT Standard of Procedure for Security and Medical matters, as well as basic reading material on medical equipment and procedures available aboard the station. It is also recommended that you brush up on Standard of Procedure for matters regarding Space Law, but it is not required for your position.

 

Reporting in

You begin your shift within the brig's personal infirmary, assuming you arrived on time of course. (See Nanotrasen policies regarding tardiness for more details.) This is your office, your personal medbay. At first it may not seem like much, holding only a single sleeper and a few beds, but this is your sanctuary, Doctor.

Inside your office, you will find:

• One (1) Standard Nanotrasen Medical Sleeper
• One (1) Laptop, complete with access to staff and crew medical records.
• One (1) Bottle of Ether
• One (1) Medical Syringe, pre-loaded with charcoal for detox
• Two (2) Medical Kits, one for general first aide, another for more advanced field treatment
• Two (2) Collapsible Rolling Beds, ideal for transporting patients who are unable to walk.
• Three (3) Medical Beds, complete with blankets & appropriate apparatus to restrain unruly or wandering patients.
• One (1) Stool, for sitting.
• One (1) Personal Locker, containing
  • One (1) Armored Brig Physician's Vest
  • Five (5) Medical Kits for Burn Treatment, Oxygen Loss, Toxin's Treatment, General and Advanced Care.
  • One (1) Pepperspray Canister, able to be refilled in security facilities, including your own office.
  • One (1) Standard issue flash device
  • One (1) Spare uniform, including backpack, footwear, headset, and jumpsuit.
• One (1) Medical Belt
• One (1) Stethoscope

As well as the equipment issued to you at the beginning of a shift, a cozy and fashionable high visibility jacket and a medical penlight.

This equipment may seem scarce to deal with an unruly security team and even more unruly prisoners, but fret not, as the Cyberiad comes with spare equipment for those authorized to use it, or give it out.
For starters, a common addition to the infirmary is a surgery table, as it is rather difficult to properly fix a bone without a stable surface. All this needs is a small amount of Plasteel (about 5 galactic units), you can either ask your station's Chief Engineer for assistance, or simply find the parts yourself, although you will find more friends if you simply ask nicely. While you have the Engineer's attention, why not see about adding some more equipment, such as a body scanner or cryotube, or for the excessively prepared, a mini-cloning lab! This is your personal space, so long as you can still provide medical care, you can arrange the infirmary however you desire.

The next thing on your list should be tools. Most of your tools will come from Medbay, and as you have access to majority of Medical areas, you are free to take the basic amenities, such as upgraded software for your health analyzer, a crew monitor, or a handful of extra meds. Make sure to only take what you need. A common practice among Physicians is to inquire with the station's Chief Medical Officer for use of a Defibrillation unit, as it can be a very effective life-saving tool in the right hands, but always make sure you get clearance from the CMO before taking a unit, as they are excessively expensive and difficult to replace in a pinch. Following Medbay, you should also place an order at Cargo for a set of surgery tools, normally, if you mark down your reason why you're ordering (something along the lines of "Brig Bay Surgery Supplies" will suffice), a signature or stamp will not be required by all but the most picky of Quartermasters. Lastly, and this is optional, either inquire with Engineering, or scrounge Tool Storage for a set of tools, mainly a welder and a handful of cable. This is recommended if your security team is a majority of synthetic units, such as cyborgs or IPCs, or if there are a large number of prosthetics going around, as they are popular among security.

"But wait!" You may be saying. "What about armaments? I am a member of security, don't I get something to defend myself with?" The answer is yes, on both counts. As a Brig Physician, you are allowed to carry a Handheld Flash Device and a canister of pepperspray for your own safety only. These are not tools of justice, these are tools of protection, of either you, your teammates, or your infirmary and the surrounding brig. As a Brig Physician, you do have basic brig access, including free access to the equipment storage, so you are able to switch out your medical belt for a security belt if you prefer, and it is suggested that you carry at least one pair of handcuffs or zip-ties for any prisoner that needs to be restrained for transport or surgery. Under normal circumstances, you are not allowed a stunbaton, however this can be waived at the discretion of the Head of Security or the Warden, typically if the station is heavily populated, if you have lost your standard gear, or if you have repurposed your pepperspray canister as a homebrew hypospray; a common idea going around the program. In the case of a confirmed threat to station or crew, you are permitted to request a weapon for self-defense, most likely a Hybrid Taser, again at the HoS or Warden's discretion, in cases of major emergencies and immediate threats to the station, where all hands are required to repeal the threat, such as a Level 5 Bio-hazard threat, or a confirmed presence of Enemy Special Operations, the Brig Physician can, once again, request a lethal weapon, largely for self defense, and this is, again, at the discretion at the HoS or Warden, although it is recommended for those officers to arm all available crew members in the above listed cases.

Standard Operations

Once you're appropriately geared, your personal infirmary humming with life and ready to save lives, you are now ready.. To wait. As a Brig Physician, your charges are the station's security team and any criminals they place in the brig, be it for a period of time or until time comes to bring them to Central Command for questioning, meaning you won't have the civilian crew knocking on your door, pleading for medical attention, much like in the proper Medbay, and you also should not be seeking them out, as they are not your priority. The Hippocratic oath is fine and dandy, but remember your priorities and your contract, Doctor.

Also remember that you are not a security officer, you are a specialized medic working with security officers, and you are not to be assisting with the tracking, chasing, processing, and incarceration of criminals in anyway. It is heavily recommended that you do not leave the Brig area after you have squared away your station and equipment. Any incident where you are assisting a security officer who is being overwhelmed inside the brig, or protecting your work space or well being, is likely to be forgiven by your superiors, but it's advised to not make a habit of doing this.

So what can you do? There is plenty to do to assist while in the brig if you don't feel like sitting around the infirmary all day. Brig Physicians are commonly spotted assisting the Warden in their duties, managing the reception desk, keeping basic equipment secure in locked containers, and keeping prisoners complacent with a caring tone. Remember you are the support to Security's muscle, you keep the team from falling apart physically, but emotional and tactical support is always welcome.

The Line, and why it shouldn't be crossed.

There is a common misconception among newer members to the Brig Physician program that you are what's referred to as a "Combat Medic", this couldn't be further from the truth. At the best of times, you are simply a doctor with a more specific and violent clientele, at the worst of times, you are a field medic. Bear in mind, there is a firm difference between a combat medic, and a field medic. Your priority in a potential combat situation should not be dispatching threats as they come to your team, your priority should always be your team and getting them away from threats and back on their feet. You are not the front line, you are not the final resort, you are the only medical officer with direct and easy access to the brig. If you are lost, the station's security team will likely falter as a result. In cases like Blobs or hostile takeovers, you may find yourself in the field supporting officers away from the main fight, possibly down the hall or tucked away in a secure area. In an assault on the security area or Armory, you and the Warden are likely the first to respond, but always remember who has immediate access to weapons and who doesn't. Your job above all else is to bring as many of your team home as possible, as off-station cloning is expensive, and that includes yourself. Keep medicine first, but remember that context is key.

With this read, you now have a basic grasp of standard Brig Physician procedure and are ready to get on board the Cyberiad. Good luck with your shift, Doctor.