In Star Trek it is the General Order
1 of the Starfleet and an oath every Starfleet Personnel has to take and uphold, even if it means
death to them or their
crew.
As the
right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural
evolution is considered sacred, no Starfleet personnel, Federation citizen and/or representative may interfere with the normal and healthy development of alien life and culture. Such interference includes introducing superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely. Starfleet personnel may not violate this
Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or their
ship/installation, unless they are acting to
right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of said culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral obligation.
The Prime Directive is overridden by:
* Omega Directive (Top Secret)
* General Order 24
Furthermore, Federation Citizens are not bound to the Prime Directive.
The Prime Directive is not just a set of rules; it is a
philosophy... and a very correct one. History has proven again and again that whenever mankind interferes with a less developed civilization, no matter how well intentioned that interference may be, the results are invariably disastrous. --Jean-Luc Picard, 2364
Someday my people are going to come up with some sort of a doctrine, something that tells us what we can and can't do out here; should and shouldn't do. But until somebody tells me that they've drafted that... directive... I'm going to have to remind myself every
day that we didn't come out here to
play God. --Captain
Jonathan Archer, 2151