13 Times Star Trek Broke Its Own Prime Directive

While the crew is visiting a seemingly idyllic planet, Wesley accidentally breaks a taboo that marks him for death. Of course, the Enterprise crew takes issue with this and intervenes to save the boy, threatening the diplomatic integrity of the planet's relationship with the entire Federation.

But Picard has never been one to leave a crew mate behind, even when that crew mate is Wesley Krusher. But saving him involves things getting a bit more complicated than usual.

To cut a long story short (as is generally the case with Star Trek episodes) Picard ends up having to seriously interfere with the legal system of the planet in order to save Wesley's life. Sure it may not fit the rigid definition written on paper of the prime directive, but it's still some heavy interference with how a planet and its people operate, even if it is to save the life of a young crew mate. So in the end, Wesley is saved, but the prime directive was heavily breached in the process.