How much medical knowledge does Donatello have?

[Ulisa]

This question was triggered by just a trend I have noticed in the fanfiction realm. While I don't necessary disagree with it, it did bring up the question: in most fan creations, Donatello serves as the Turtles' resident medic/healer but how much medical knowledge does he really have? Granted, he's shown to be an inventor, scientist and the like but does that really translate into medical knowledge?

Though, out of all four of them, he does seem the most obvious choice. It's just something I have been wondering because I have seen some stories where they have him as adept as a surgeon, which I don't necessarily agree with but I would certainly agree he could handle most illnesses and minor injuries. Thoughts?

[Jester]

I know I wrote him as the resident doc in my one story, but he was only dealing with a broken leg.

I could see him studying all sorts of things, and having a basic knowledge of 1st Aid, but a surgeon....not so much. And to be fair, I can see Splinter being just as knowledgeable as Don in healing, but maybe in a different aspect.

[victory_angel]

I think Donatello would be well studied enough medical knowledge to do basic triage. But the closest thing he would come to invasive surgery will be slicing a wound open to get something that might be wedged to deep to pull out manually and sewing torn muscles together.

Do I see him removing Michelangelo's tonsil's or finding tears in internal organs....I don't think that he's be able to do that. In the case of tonsillitis, I can see him resorting to swiping a bottle of penicillin from the nearest pharmacy.

Of internal bleeding...I think he might assess the damage to see how bad it is. If it's a minor injury that could heal on it's own he won't worry to much. If it's major I think he'd just make sure said person is comfortable until the very end.

[Technogeek29]

I'm sure all the the Turtles are able to apply some degree of first aid. In some stories i've read Mikey gets extreme injuries and is able to patch himself up enough so he won't die. Don would at least read a few medical books but one story explained that they we're for human biology, so he couldn't necessarily apply it to them. In that story he panic because he thought Mikey might've stopped his heart from touching an electric fence and his plastern made it difficult to resuscitate him.

[BubblyShell22]

I definitely think Don could have some basic knowledge of first aid and how to treat certain injuries, though I think all of the Turtles would probably be versed in how to treat injuries. In the Nick show, we've seen Raph treat Don's sprained arm, so I would think they all have a basic knowledge of first aid.

[Shiro Kame]

Depends on which series he's in. In the 4kids show, he didn't know much about medicine. In the Nick show, he was capable of creating antidotes for various poisons (like Fishface's venom or the venom from Parasitica's sting)

[ryukenden]

Given the dangers of the surface world, all the Turtles would have to know some first aid as much as ninjitsu. Maybe flesh wounds and sprains can be treated but major injuries are another matter entirely. Don would be the most likely to come up with antitodes and such.

[Refractive Reflections]

First, I think one has to recognize the difference between being a medical researcher (which is probably what Donatello is in understanding their physiology from a investigative, and diagnostic perspective) versus a practicing physician (well prepared in being able to heal others quickly and promptly based on credible information).

To build upon Jester and some of the others arguments here, I'm sure Donatello and the Turtles know basic first aid and triage considering the numerous amount of fights they have gotten into. But as Jester mentioned, I couldn't see Donatello being proficient in the league of specialties like surgery or internal medicine because physicians generally need many years of supervised training (internship and residency) and experience (they need numerous patients, but Donatello only has himself and his three brothers) to know exactly how to quickly heal others. In most of the episodes concerning their mutant anatomy and physiology, it's all newly discovered information to Donatello since there are no previous medical sources to explain how their mutant bodies exist, much less work.

...Which could explain why Donatello takes a long time in figuring out solutions, or sometimes not able to devise one at all if they are exposed to any further mutations, chemicals, etc. (outside the realm of physical injuries) that further complicates in explaining their bodily functioning. ...I mean the Turtles merely existing is a huge willing suspension of disbelief after all. :P

As for Splinter's approach toward healing, I could see him being very proficient with holistic medicine.

[plastroncafe]

I like to think that all four turtles are competent enough to perform basic triage. I mean...in Volume One we see Leo giving stitches to Mike.

Honestly though? In my mind Don's more of an engineer, than a biological scientist.

[blindturtle02]

I definitely think Don could have some basic knowledge of first aid and how to treat certain injuries, though I think all of the Turtles would probably be versed in how to treat injuries. In the Nick show, we've seen Raph treat Don's sprained arm, so I would think they all have a basic knowledge of first aid.

I keep wondering what would happen if the guys needed to be treated for a more serious injury? It'd be interesting to see the boys get a family physician of sorts in some incarnation or another. I dunno. Human contact between the TMNT and other New Yorkers has always fascinated me. Of course every one usually runs away screaming but it'd be refreshing to see someone other than April Casey or Irma who doesn't judge the boys simply by their looks.

[Galactus]

In the 4Kids series he seemed lost on how to treat Leonardo when he was injured in the Battle Nexus Tournament. Granted this was a very odd injury that even the nexus doctors couldn't treat but he make a point to say "I'm an engineer not a doctor".

In the Archie series he didn't know how to deliver a baby although Splinter seemed to choose him as the most capable to help him.

[victory_angel]

I keep wondering what would happen if the guys needed to be treated for a more serious injury? It'd be interesting to see the boys get a family physician of sorts in some incarnation or another. I dunno. Human contact between the TMNT and other New Yorkers has always fascinated me. Of course every one usually runs away screaming but it'd be refreshing to see someone other than April Casey or Irma who doesn't judge the boys simply by their looks.

Well there is Dr. Rockwell, If Donnie is able to create a retromutagen that unfortunately won't restore his humanity, but will restore his ability to speak and think like a normal human being. That could enable him to be a doctor for the Turtles. I know he's a Neuro Biologists, but even they have to have some study of internal medicine, right?

[blindturtle02]

Well there is Dr. Rockwell, If Donnie is able to create a retromutagen that unfortunately won't restore his humanity, but will restore his ability to speak and think like a normal human being. That could enable him to be a doctor for the Turtles. I know he's a Neuro Biologists, but even they have to have some study of internal medicine, right?

Ah there ya go! That's a great idea and hopefully the writers have already thought that far ahead. I was sort of hoping his intelligence would be restored but not too sure if it's going to happen. The monkey would be a welcome edition to the allies, especially with Welker voicing him.

[Vivi]

In their line of 'work' he'd be crazy not to have the foresight to have fundamental knowledge and more of medical procedures. And Don's not crazy.

[BabyTurtles]

as some have said...I think they all would have too know some first aid stuff :3

Donnie's probably exeeds at making antidotes though. :D

[Refractive Reflections]

I keep wondering what would happen if the guys needed to be treated for a more serious injury? It'd be interesting to see the boys get a family physician of sorts in some incarnation or another. I dunno. Human contact between the TMNT and other New Yorkers has always fascinated me. Of course every one usually runs away screaming but it'd be refreshing to see someone other than April Casey or Irma who doesn't judge the boys simply by their looks.

Well there is Dr. Rockwell, If Donnie is able to create a retromutagen that unfortunately won't restore his humanity, but will restore his ability to speak and think like a normal human being. That could enable him to be a doctor for the Turtles. I know he's a Neuro Biologists, but even they have to have some study of internal medicine, right?


In the OT episode What's Michelangelo Good For?, the Turtles (especially Michelangelo) were friends with the veterinarian Dr. Jane Goodfellow from the Central Park Zoo. She appeared to have a history of sorts with them because Michelangelo felt comfortable talking with her and involving her in his mission to save the other animals and his brothers from Dr. Lesseau. In addition, she recognized Michelangelo with his disguise when he brought in Pete the Pigeon and wasn't spooked seeing Michelangelo without his disguise later that day.

In my opinion, a veterinarian would probably be more qualified than a family physician since those four are still turtles... more or less :P, ( Edit: ) and Dr. Goodfellow in the OT universe, would probably be the one to treat them (to the best of her ability and exposure in treating/healing mutant turtles) if the injuries ever did become too serious.

[Shark_Blade]

Aww, a family vet sounds adorable lmao. :lol: Would be nice if they have someone like that.

Imagine if Donnie get severely injured one day; all they can do is nothing but panic and running around in circles.

[BabyTurtles]

Aww, a family vet sounds adorable lmao. :lol: Would be nice if they have someone like that.

Imagine if Donnie get severely injured one day; all they can do is nothing but panic and running around in circles.

:lol: tha'd be cute!

[BubblyShell22]

Yes, a vet would be a good addition to the team. Aw, crap, now I have a plot bunny for that. Thanks, guys.

[Refractive Reflections]

Aww, a family vet sounds adorable lmao. :lol: Would be nice if they have someone like that.


It would definitely make diagnosing much easier for the veterinarian since it would be the first time ever a veterinarian would be able to get a patient history directly from the horse's-- I mean turtle's mouth. :lol:

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Yes, a vet would be a good addition to the team. Aw, crap, now I have a plot bunny for that. Thanks, guys.


Too late! I already thought of that several days ago. I even thought of having the guys go to Dr. Goodfellow to heal one of them for something.

On a related note, Donnie did know how to use the medi-laser in the OT episode, and IIRC, wasn't he working on Mikey's leg in that scene when Casey tells April she was fired in the first movie? There might be other examples, but the only other one I can think of that stands out involves Leo giving CPR to Yoshi in the third movie- so it seems that they all have some kind of medical knowledge. And interestingly, basic medicine and herbalism is one of the 18 disciplines practiced by ninjas historically. This also includes knowledge of drugs and poisons, too!

[victory_angel]

Too late! I already thought of that several days ago. I even thought of having the guys go to Dr. Goodfellow to heal one of them for something.

On a related note, Donnie did know how to use the medi-laser in the OT episode, and IIRC, wasn't he working on Mikey's leg in that scene when Casey tells April she was fired in the first movie? There might be other examples, but the only other one I can think of that stands out involves Leo giving CPR to Yoshi in the third movie- so it seems that they all have some kind of medical knowledge. And interestingly, basic medicine and herbalism is one of the 18 disciplines practiced by ninjas historically. This also includes knowledge of drugs and poisons, too!

And in the fourth movie Donnie is checking Raph's vitals after he was hit with that tranquilizer Dart.

[Electric]

I think Donnie has a pretty good undeestanding of treatment and medicine. Removing tonsils, open heart surgery, etc? No not that much. But treating broken bones, illnesses, minors surgeries to remove debri, etc. I think he is capable of.

[Bossa Nova]

I like to imagine all of the turtles have a fairly good grasp of how to treat themselves in case of sickness and injury. They would have to, relying on each other solely for survival for so many years, it would be pretty stupid if one them didn't. However, it does make sense to me that given Don's natural thirst for knowledge, he likely has a more know-how in that area when it comes to more complicated matters that need to be attended to or researched. But say one of them needs stitches or help setting a broken bone, I'd think it's safe to say any one of them could handle the job sufficiently. Still, I imagine the turtles likely prefer Don or Leo to get the job done as they both tend to remain calmer in situations of high stress.

Still, when it comes to matters such as internal surgery and the like, I don't think Donnie has the proper equipment or thorough understanding to deal with it on his own. I do have a headcanon that he does use stray sewer rats and the random cat or even a dog to dissect and further his understanding of anatomy in a more hands on approach, so in that case he may have a little more experience, but even so, his skills would still be quite limited compared to a real doctor.

[victory_angel]

Still, when it comes to matters such as internal surgery and the like, I don't think Donnie has the proper equipment or thorough understanding to deal with it on his own. I do have a headcanon that he does use stray sewer rats and the random cat or even a dog to dissect and further his understanding of anatomy in a more hands on approach, so in that case he may have a little more experience, but even so, his skills would still be quite limited compared to a real doctor.

I think Donnie might dissect these things for practice if he finds them already good and dead. I don't see him killing another living creature for the sake of practicing surgical procedure.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Definitely not. Also, as an interesting side-note, the Palladium TMNT RPG book lists First Aid under Mikey's skills- and he's the ONLY one who has ANY medical skills listed! Considering his many animal rescues (Pete the pigeon, Klunk, Ditto the parrot, and Max the goldfish), that kind of fits. But it seems odd to me that he would be the only one with any kind of medical knowledge or expertise, when Donnie is the one generally assumed to have such skills. Although according to that book, April has skills as a Paramedic- so maybe he learned from her? And maybe she's their "go-to" person for most medical treatment....

[Ulisa]

It's interesting that Mike was given first aid knowledge but oddly enough, I think it fits. Everyone seems to dismiss him as not being intelligent but I don't think that's true at all.

I always saw Mike as being the most compassionate of the four. Given in the OT, his numerous connections with animals (and kids for that matter) it actually makes a lot of sense now that he would pursue first aid. I like that idea.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

That was my thinking, too.

[Stingray69]

I would like to think he has fairly extensive medical knowledge. Limited more by the equipment available then his own knowledge.

It would seem they all have some medical knowledge.
Master splinter made a antidote for April once. And Leo reset his own dislocated shoulder.

What was dons degree in and at what Level?

[triplexxx]

As has been mentioned by several others here, basic knowledge of first-aid/healing is most definitely something they all possess, they've been shown to handle minor-to-moderate injury, sickness, sprains, and also bone fractures/breaks; it is said a good warrior knows how to heal as well as fight. Probably not so much in dental, extensive surgery, or diagnosis/treatment of long-term/lifelong hereditary disease (which none of them have anyway). Anyone remember "The Making of Metalhead" where they got Turtle Pox and needed April to help tend to them?

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

I imagine quite a bit. But I'm guessing all the Turtles have some levels of medical knowledge.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

I would like to think he has fairly extensive medical knowledge. Limited more by the equipment available then his own knowledge.

It would seem they all have some medical knowledge.
Master Splinter made a antidote for April once. And Leo reset his own dislocated shoulder.

What was Don's degree in and at what Level?

True enough- I'd say it's not so much a limited knowledge that restricts his medical abilities, but access to equipment for major operations, diagnosis, or scanning. (ie- x-rays, CAT scans, MRI's, etc.)

As for his degree, I believe it was in chemistry or physics? (I'd have to re-watch that OT ep.)