If the Doctor had known from the beginning that being the DoctorDonna would for certain sure destroy Donna's mind, he should have looked horrified and whispered something like "Oh no, I'm so sorry" as soon as he realized what had happened. But he didn't. He, and Hand!Ten, acted delighted and excited to have her as the third part of the equation, and neither one of them made any effort to coddle her.
When I saw the episode, I genuinely believed that the Doctor didn't know that Donna was dying until he saw the symptoms actually start. Once he realized how agitated she was and how frenzied her speech had become, he started to become quiet and sober as he realized what must be happening to her, and then when she started to stammer and panic, he finally admitted it out loud. He didn't have to explain to her in little baby words what he would have to do to save her: she already knew it, that's why she fought (though she wouldn't have if she'd been calm enough to realize that there really was no other choice except death --
( ... )
Okay! That's good, that makes sense, that means I can stop being quite so flaily at the Doctor. I'm still marginally squicked by it, but this is an explanation I can totally get behind. Works beautifully for me. Thank you!
(I still feel like he should have warned her it might not all be sunshine, but I can totally see him not doing that because he's so hopeful she'll be okay.)
Now if you're going to say that RTD wrote the whole thing stupidly and it shouldn't have HAD to come down to such a fate for Donna.
I don't like expression mind-rape, largely because I think the word rape should be limited to discussions of actual rape and not extended to cover all forms of violation. It's not terribly appropriate in this case because no-one ever rapes someone with the intention of helping them - however annoyed I may be at the Doctor I won't deny that he genuinely believed he was doing what was best for Donna. I have no problem calling it a violation or an assault though.
The delay in talking to Donna about it pretty much blows the 'informed consent' argument out of the water. I can believe the Doctor prevaricated because he didn't want to face up to the reality of the situation and have sympathy for him in that regard. It doesn't let him off the hook for me though. I can understand why he didn't start that conversation earlier but I still think he should've done it anyway.
I agree he should have started in earlier but feel now that I've at least got a sane explanation as to why he didn't. And, yes, assault's more accurate since that would also be correct for giving someone an op against their wishes, and I do not wish to misuse 'rape.'
In another comm, this same subject was being discussed. According to one poster, there are some people who are so mentally ill that they do think rape is helping someone. I wish I remember where I read it so that I could link back to it for you. Probably next best thing to do is to break out a current Abnormal Psych text book. Or do some on-line research.
I think he was hoping that nothing would go wrong, and thus left the whole procedure until it was too late for him to explain without her brain blowing up.
I don't know. I really don't. I've been using the term because that is how it appeared to me while I was watching it. Everything from the language used, to their physical actions looked to me like metaphorical rape. I was so grossed out when I was watching it. I understand that people object to the term, and I am happy to stop using it in favor of violation or whatever. But I can only go with what my own visceral reaction was to what I was shown and that's what it screamed to me. I think, more than anything, I am furious with RTD for writing a scene that could even remotely be interpreted that way.
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If the Doctor had known from the beginning that being the DoctorDonna would for certain sure destroy Donna's mind, he should have looked horrified and whispered something like "Oh no, I'm so sorry" as soon as he realized what had happened. But he didn't. He, and Hand!Ten, acted delighted and excited to have her as the third part of the equation, and neither one of them made any effort to coddle her.
When I saw the episode, I genuinely believed that the Doctor didn't know that Donna was dying until he saw the symptoms actually start. Once he realized how agitated she was and how frenzied her speech had become, he started to become quiet and sober as he realized what must be happening to her, and then when she started to stammer and panic, he finally admitted it out loud. He didn't have to explain to her in little baby words what he would have to do to save her: she already knew it, that's why she fought (though she wouldn't have if she'd been calm enough to realize that there really was no other choice except death -- ( ... )
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(I still feel like he should have warned her it might not all be sunshine, but I can totally see him not doing that because he's so hopeful she'll be okay.)
Now if you're going to say that RTD wrote the whole thing stupidly and it shouldn't have HAD to come down to such a fate for Donna.
Yes, that too.
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The delay in talking to Donna about it pretty much blows the 'informed consent' argument out of the water. I can believe the Doctor prevaricated because he didn't want to face up to the reality of the situation and have sympathy for him in that regard. It doesn't let him off the hook for me though. I can understand why he didn't start that conversation earlier but I still think he should've done it anyway.
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