/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb Sys Parameters, BUGCHECKFATAL  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    BUGCHECKFATAL enables or disables the conversion of nonfatal
    bugchecks into fatal bugchecks. The system must be rebooted on a
    fatal bugcheck. A nonfatal bugcheck places an entry only in the
    error log and deletes the corresponding process.

    This parameter should normally be OFF (0);  you should set it ON
    (1)  only when the executive is being debugged.

    Setting the SYSTEM_CHECK parameter to 1 has the effect of setting
    BUGCHECKFATAL to ON (1).

    BUGCHECKFATAL is a DYNAMIC parameter.