[[quoteright:185:[[Webcomic/GirlGenius http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/GirlGenius_DoctorsOrders_6871.JPG]]]]
[[caption-width-right:185:[-Some patients...-] ]]
->'''[=McCoy=]''': I would like to remedy that situation.\\
'''Spock''': If you believe I have acted irregularly, then relieve me of duty. That is your prerogative as medical officer of this ship.
-->--''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''

You're TheLeader, the ReasonableAuthorityFigure, TheCaptain, TheEmperor! You rule a world,[[GalacticConqueror a galaxy]], [[DimensionLord a dimension]], [[MultiversalConqueror multiple universes]]! Everyone obeys ''you''! Even if you do have a cold, or a broken arm! So why does this man try to order you about? And acts huffy when you don't obey in haste?

Well, he's your doctor. By which we mean, he is [[NotThatKindOfDoctor that kind of doctor.]] Unless, of course, he's the [[HealingHands healer]], the midwife, the nurse, TheMedic, or any other member of the healing profession. And he is quite certain that you must obey [[TropeNamer The Doctor's Orders]].

No matter what exalted position their patients hold, and what power the patient has over the doctor in non-medical matters, in their field of expertise, doctors are adamant that they are in charge. This does not mean that the patient will actually obey -- even the ReasonableAuthorityFigure may defy him for reasons of state -- but the doctor will regard it as being a bad patient, not their exercising rightful authority. In fact, there is only one person in the world who functionally outranks a person's doctor, and that is [[AlmightyMom their mother]].

Can also apply when the figure gives orders about a third party, the doctor's patient.

RuleOfDrama dictates it will be most often seen when the patient does not want to obey, as when a character chooses to PullTheIV, brush aside the ineffectual medic stuttering "YouCanBarelyStand!" and [[ThePatientHasLeftTheBuilding get back to business]].

Not to be confused with the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' novel, ''Doctor's Orders'', although the title is a pun on this trope.
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!!Examples
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[[folder: Advertising ]]

* Invoked in a series of ads for Dr. Pepper where various people ([[Series/{{Frasier}} Kelsey Grammer]], [[Music/{{KISS}} Gene Simmons]], DrDre, etc.) who are known in pop culture for being or having the nickname "doctor" shill for Dr. Pepper saying, "[[TrustMeImAnX trust me, I'm a doctor]]."

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[[folder: Comics ]]

* In ''Comicbook/DoctorStrange: The Oath'', another physician pulls this on Strange a few times. Justified since he's genuinely injured; though if he hadn't been somewhat taken with her he probably wouldn't have listened.
* Whenever a member of the [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bat-clan]] gets sick or injured enough that they ''need'' rest, Alfred will make sure their fool-asses stay in bed so they can heal properly.

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[[folder: Film ]]

* This is the premise of ''Film/AnalyzeThis'': a mob boss needs a psychiatrist, who has trouble helping him because he's afraid to assert himself.

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[[folder: Literature ]]

* In JohnCWright's ''Literature/CountToATrillion'', Menelaus can talk casually with the effective ruler of Earth. When he must be examined by a doctor, he finds it much harder to assert himself.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Madam Pomphrey asserted herself quite strongly in ''The Prisoner of Azkaban'' when authority figures wanted to speak to students in her care.
** Later, Dumbledore averts this trope when he instead goes to [[spoiler: the more trustworthy]] Snape.
* ZigZagged in Literature/ArtemisFowl: The CorruptCorporateExecutive's doctors are very much aware of his Mafia connections, so they give medical advice very politely. In fact, when he sends his secretary out for celebratory cigars, she invokes this trope by trying to remind him of what the doctors said before remembering who she's talking to.
* Happens all the time in Creator/MercedesLackey's ''HeraldsOfValdemar'' series. Healers commands are more or less absolute.
* There are so many times in ''Literature/WarriorCats'' when the medicine cat says "As your medicine cat, I'm ''ordering'' you to rest" or something along those lines - even when the cat they're ordering around is their Clan leader and older than them.
* In JackCampbell's TheLostFleet novel ''Invincible'', Geary orders a day of rest despite many urgent needs, because exhaustion is hampering their work efforts. He suspects that a doctor who speaks to him hasn't slept for days, including that one, and thinks of how doctors take their oaths more seriously than they do their positions as officers.
* In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''His Last Command'', Dorden strenously resists Gaunt's orders to revive Mkoll, though he gives up in the end.
* In JimButcher's Literature/TheDresdenFiles novel ''Literature/ColdDays'', Butters gives them to Harry, who takes them more seriously than he usually takes orders, but not seriously enough for Butters's taste.
* In Creator/SeananMcGuire's ''Literature/OctoberDaye'' novels
** ''A Local Habitation'', when Toby threatens Quentin during her AfterActionPatchup, Quentin cheerfully says that Gordan won't let her get up; Gordan agrees.
** ''Ashes Of Honor'', Jin tries to force Tybalt not to stand after the AfterActionHealingDrama. When that fails, she asks him to at least try to take it easy the next few days, and he says he will bow to her wisdom. She is pleasantly surprised.
* In JRRTolkien's ''[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Return of the King]]'', Faramir tells Eowyn that even if he had assumed his authority as Steward, he would be reluctant to override that of the Warden of the Houses of Healing in the matter of her health.

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[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* Comes up sometimes in ''Franchise/StarTrek,'' where the ship's doctor has the authority to relieve the captain of command in the matters of health.
** Such as in "The Tholian Web", where Spock tells him to do it if he believes it proper.
* DocMartin is routinely frustrated by patients ignoring his advice and doing what they want. One woman nearly killed herself trying to function with a herniated vertebra.
* Comes up on ''{{Series/Merlin}}''. Gaius is one of the few people who can often give Uther direction without getting in trouble, although Uther still tends to yell a lot. Granted,his advice has gone outside the medical realm a few times, again mostly to Uther telling him to get lost.
* A plot point in the ''Series/HoratioHornblower'' MadeForTVMovie ''[[TheMutiny Mutiny]]'' involved the officers of the HMS ''Renown'' having to convince the ship's doctor to declare Captain Sawyer medically unfit to command due to his slipping sanity. Further complicating the issue was the fact that the doctor and Sawyer were longtime friends.
* Medical doctors in the StargateVerse (especially Dr. Fraiser) are often given special dispensation to overrule high-ranking military officials on medical matters. As it turns out, Janet Fraiser outranks ''Hammond'' on matters medical, much to O'Neill's displeasure.
* Subverted in ''{{Series/Firefly}}''. When [[TokenEvilTeamMate Jayne]] tries to make a power play when Mal and Zoe get themselves (possibly) caught by the Feds, nobody wants to go along with it, but nobody left on the ship is strong enough to actually ''stop'' him. [[NonSequiturThud And then he starts talking nonsense and falls flat on his face.]] Turns out that Doctor Tam, when giving him a painkiller for a gunshot wound, [[GenreSavvy gave him considerably more than was necessary to stop him from doing anything.]] Ironically, he only gave Jayne the painkillers because Jayne [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor ordered him to]].

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[[folder: Theater ]]

* In DorothyLSayers's radio play ''The Man Born To Be King'', she put notes down for King Herod's physician: he must speak with authority, even though he's giving those orders to the king.

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[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* In ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'',
** Dr. Sun [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080526 berates]] Baron Wulfenbach when he disobeys the doctor's orders and earlier [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070718 called]] his request to [[PsychoForHire almost uncontrollable]] [=DuPree=] "doctor's advice" -- after all, ignoring it would be bad for her health.
** Mama Gkinka also gives Zeetha the whatfor when she finds her up and about after treatment. Zeetha promises she's not fighting. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20130125 Later, after she has fought, she dismisses it as Mama's opinion.]]
* In ''ExterminatusNow'', [[http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2010-11-07/comic/voiding-your-warranty/what-facility/ they cite doctor's orders, knowing even the head of the Inquisition will listen.]]
* In ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'', [[http://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/316 the EMT tries to argue with Maxima.]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'', [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff500/fv00420.htm the vet has one (1) patient who listens to him. He thinks he's ahead of some doctors.]]
* ''Webcomic/DocRat''
** [[http://www.docrat.com.au/default.asp?thisItem=1116 is actually obeyed about travel socks.]]
** [[http://www.docrat.com.au/default.asp?thisItem=1770 Also about "two in the morning" -- though slightly misinterpreted.]]
* In ''Webcomic/DragonMango'', [[http://dragon-mango.com/comic/chapter03/dm03-44.htm the healer's reaction]] is "WHO TOLD YOU IT WAS OKAY TO MOVE AROUND? Now lie down and rest until I tell you you're healed?" -- and a TapOnTheHead. She defends it as "tough love."

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[[folder: Real Life ]]

* In Britain where Prime Minister David Cameron was visiting a hospital, and hadn't done all the health and safety stuff. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JapsssNVs4 The doctor, as you will not be surprised to find out, shouted down the prime minister]].
* There was a US Supreme Court Justice [[hottip:*:they serve until they retire or die, whichever comes first]] who had an agreement with his doctor: he would serve until the doctor said he was getting too senile to be able to render decisions. As soon as his doctor told him that, he announced his retirement. (I don't remember which one though; it was a [[Administrivia/ExamplesAreNotRecent relatively recent]] one, like in the past 15-20 years.)
** It's most likely John Paul Stevens (age 90 at retirement in 2010). The only other Justices who have retired since 1990 are Byron White, Harry Blackmun, and William J. Brennan (who retired in the early 1990s), but they were much younger when they retired; of the three, it seems most in line with Brennan's character. It's unlikely to be David Souter (who retired before he turned 70 and famously hated living in D.C. and wanted desperately to get back to New Hampshire) or Sandra Day O'Connor (the above specifies a woman).

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