Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Dr Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
3. His Thoughts On Technology
Doctor McCoy had a very complicated relationship with technology. He considered the 20th century hospital from The Voyage Home 'mediaeval' in comparison to 23rd century medicine, but he was slightly distrustful of technology, and didn't want to rely on it too much in his work.
He was sceptical of everyday Starfleet devices like the transporter (and even shuttlecrafts in the alternate universe films). He also tried to take advantage of the body's natural healing ability as much as possible when treating his patients. In the Corbomite Maneuver, Kirk asked McCoy 'aren't you the one that always says a little suffering is good for the soul?' This isn't to say that he wanted his patients to suffer, just that he believed the easy fix wasn't always the best fix. First and foremost, he thought that people cannot allow technology to coddle and replace humanity.
After seeing T'Ana's medical chainsaw from Lower Decks, it's hard to not be a bit weary of accepted Starfleet medical technology.