Minnesota plays a unique role in the arena of health, with impactful political/cultural moments, and important contributions from institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Hazelden, UCare, among others. Over the decades, MPR News and American RadioWorks have produced a breadth of reports and programming specifically dedicated to the subject of health. This collection includes interviews, debates, speeches, and documentaries that provide greater detail to the many facets of healthcare, from both a local and national perspective.
October 15, 1993 - Dr. Arthur Caplan, ethicist in bioethics, explains the push and pull of political, scientific, and monetary support in research of various diseases.
October 16, 1993 - A Midday discussion on mental health policy with guests Kathy Kelso, executive director of Minnesota Mental Health Association; and Catherine Salmon, executive director of West Central Community Services Center in Willmar, Minnesota. Topics include the perception of mental health.
November 6, 1993 - On this Saturday Midday, Dr. David Jachim, director of Human Development Institute, discusses working with child underachievers. Jachim is a consulting psychologist and defines the characteristic of underachieving. He also answers listener questions.
December 9, 1993 - Dr. Arthur Caplan, director of the center for biomedical ethics at the University of Minnesota, talks about the topic of physician-assisted suicide and answers listener questions.
December 14, 1993 - Dave Durenberger and Paul Wellstone, Minnesota’s U.S. senators, debate at Minnesota Meeting. The topic of debate is health-care reform. Durenberger is an advocate of managed competition in health care, while Wellstone is an advocate of a single-payer system. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
December 22, 1993 - Dr. Arthur Caplan shares his perspective on ethical issues regarding news of China looking at a eugenics policy.
February 9, 1994 - Timothy Wirth, undersecretary of State for Global Affairs, discusses world population and sustainable development. Wirth also answers listener questions.
February 10, 1994 - Dan Dreyfus, director of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program, is asked about federal government finding a permanent site for radioactive waste from the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant.
February 10, 1994 - MPR’s Tom Fudge reports on Hennepin County Board of Commissioners holding a hearing at Hennepin County Medical Center regarding abortion training by medical residents at the hospital.
March 15, 1994 - On this Midday, a look at programs for overcoming alcohol abuse. Patricia Owen, clinical psychologist at Hazelden, Robert Muscala; chemical dependency counselor with Chemical Health Concept; and Pat Harrison of the Minnesota State Department of Human Services, discuss the various types of chemical treatment options available in Minnesota for alcoholics.