Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Transmission of a disease from one individual to another in the same generation. In contrast, vertical transmission is from one generation to another, such as transmission of HIV infection from a mother to her offspring. The transfer of a disease between sexual partners.  

Federal legislation resulting in a post-World War II federal program of financial assistance for the construction and renovation of hospitals and other health care facilities. The intent was to increase the number of hospital beds in poor or underserved communities of the United States. The Hill-Burton Act also required that community hospitals receiving support under…

A term sometimes used in a title for very high sophistication in the computing and communications fields. For example, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) has an officer with the title Assistant Director for High Performance Computing and Communication.  

An Act introduced by Senator Albert Gore in 1991 outlining his ideas for “highways of the mind”. These highways would be supported and encouraged by federal research and development activities in order to provide a national intellectual resource, which then would be turned over to private enterprise.  

A unit of the hospital set up to treat patients with certain renal (kidney) disorders by the use of hemodialysis.  

An organization of individuals who believe that it should be permissible for an individual to end his own life. The name came from the use of a poison obtained from the poison hemlock tree for such a purpose. An organization that publishes information about physician-assisted suicide, and decisions by patients regarding end-of-life choices.  

The case of an 86-year-old Minneapolis woman who died in July 1991 after being in a persistent vegetative state for more than a year. The case was the first in which a court ruled that the wishes of the family as to the care to be provided should be carried out despite the recommendation of…

A statement made out of the courtroom, which is offered into evidence during a trial to prove the substance of what was said. The “hearsay rule” makes hearsay not admissible as evidence; however, there are many exceptions. A notable exception for hospitals is the business record exception, which makes admissible written statements made in the…

A report published by the Public Health Service (PHS) in 1990 outlining health promotion and disease prevention goals for Americans for the year 2000. The report states that meeting the goals requires acceptance, of shared responsibilities by citizens, health professionals, government at all levels, the media, and communities. The goals included such specifics as an…

The federal agency within the US Public Health Service (PHS) which deeds with issues relating to access, equity, quality, and cost of care. HRSA supports States and local communities in their efforts to organize and deliver health care, especially to underserved populations and other groups with special health needs, such as mothers and children. HRSA…