How much medical knowledge does Donatello have?
 

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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: