A medical log is a form of log entry depicted by a medical officer. It serves as a record of medical cases for the officer's own benefit and that of future physicians.
Doctor Leonard McCoy kept medical logs during his service as chief medical officer of the USS Enterprise. His logs also contained personal thoughts or concerns on a situation or people. (TOS: "A Private Little War", "Return to Tomorrow", "The Enterprise Incident"; TAS: "The Ambergris Element")
The Doctor of the USS Voyager also kept medical logs, including one in which he reported his conclusion that Chakotay was not the father of Seska's child. (VOY: "Basics, Part II").
Starfleet Chief Medical Officer's have the power to relieve Starfleet Personnel from their duties, even if it is a superior officer. They must log such actions in the official Medical Log and must have proper medical documentation or the support of one Senior Command Officer to justify such removal. All of this must be noted in the Medical Log. (TOS: "Doomsday Machine"; TNG: "Lonely Among Us"; VOY: "Year of Hell, Part II")
See also Starfleet General Orders and Regulations
Types of medical logs
- Chief medical officer's log
- Chief medical officer's personal log
- Medical officer's log