Toby Russell Doctor Toby Russell was a female scientist and neuro - specialist in the 24th century . Her research was concentrated in neurogenetics , and created a number of revolutionary medical technologies and drug s , most notably the genetronic replicator . By 2368 , she was employed at the Adelman Neurological Institute . Russell was controversial in her research methods , as she often risked the lives of her patient s she deemed unable to save for experimental treatments . She was described as not caring whether or not the patient survived , only if she gained data from the attempt . However , she defended this by saying this data helps many more lives . In the 2360s , Russell developed the genetronic replicator and performed dozens of holographic simulations . She petitioned three times for Starfleet Medical to approve its use on humanoid s , all denied . She considered this an example of bureaucracy getting in the way of life - saving research . Russell visited the in 2368 at the request of Dr . Beverly Crusher , as a consult after Lieutenant Worf was paralyzed . She suggested using the untested genetronic replicator to repair Worf ' s spinal column and restore full mobility , but Crusher felt the technology was too risky and would endanger Worf ' s life even further . Crusher and Russell then presented a traditional treatment based on neural transducer s to Worf , but he refused , as he would rather die than live a life without full mobility . Russell then suggested the genitronic replicator to Worf , angering Dr . Crusher . The already tense situation was further inflamed when Russell assisted in triage of victims from the . She used one of her experimental drugs , borathium , on a survivor rather than another proven treatment which may have saved his life . Russell felt justified in using borathium , as she was able to recover valuable data which would allow her to improve the drug ' s effectiveness . Dr . Crusher , still upset over Russell ' s behavior concerning Worf , relieved her of medical duty . After conferring with Captain Picard , Dr . Crusher eventually decided to authorize the use of the genetronic replicator , and Russell participated in the groundbreaking surgery . Although the procedure was a success due to Worf ' s Klingon anatomy , Crusher still believed Russell practiced dangerous and inappropriate medicine - particularly since Worf had briefly died on the operating table , only being restored thanks to his neurological functions being ' backed up ' along with most of his other vital organs . In a final tense meeting between the two doctors , Dr . Crusher addressed Dr . Russell coldly , saying that real research took years of patience and dedication to accomplish and not the shortcuts that Dr Russell had taken . As Doctor Russell left her office , Dr . Crusher told her , with a hint of sarcasm , to enjoy the accolades that would come from this success , because Dr Crusher wasn ' t sure she could given the questionable ethics Doctor Russell had used . ( ) Apocrypha . In the novel " A Time for War , A Time for Peace " , Toby Russell is part of a Starfleet team that is inspecting the and during part of her sickbay inspection , Russell is once again confronted by Beverly Crusher about her reckless medical practices and Crusher also reminds Russell , to her irritation , that after the initial wave of articles about the successful genetronics procedure , which was only barely successful due to Worf ' s unique Klingon physiology , nothing else has ever been heard about genetronics .