As used in sections 191.300 to 191.380, the following terms mean:

(1) “Committee”, the Missouri genetic disease advisory committee;

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 191.300

  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020

(2) “Cystic fibrosis”, a serious lung problem of children; an inherited disorder which produces chronic involvement of the respiratory and digestive systems;

(3) “Department”, the department of health and senior services;

(4) “Director”, the director of the state department of health and senior services;

(5) “Genetic counseling”, the provision and interpretation of medical information based on expanding knowledge of human genetics;

(6) “Genetic disorders”, abnormalities of structure, function, or body metabolism which may be inherited or may result from damage to the fetus;

(7) “Genetic screening”, the search through testing for persons with genetic disorders;

(8) “Health care professional”, a physician or other health care practitioner licensed, accredited, or certified by the state of Missouri to perform specified health services;

(9) “Health care services”, services for the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or relief of a health condition, illness, injury, or disease;

(10) “Hemophilia”, a bleeding tendency resulting from a genetically determined deficiency factor in the blood;

(11) “Outreach clinics”, medical clinics which provide genetic diagnosis and counseling at sites away from the tertiary genetic centers;

(12) “Program”, the genetic program authorized by the provisions of sections 191.300 to 191.331, 191.340, and 191.365 to 191.380;

(13) “Sickle cell anemia”, a blood disease characterized by the presence of crescent shaped or sickle shaped erythrocytes in peripheral blood, excessive hemolysis, and active hematopoiesis, resulting from a genetic defect;

(14) “Sickle cell trait”, the healthy state wherein one carries the gene for sickle cell and could possibly pass that gene to his offspring;

(15) “Tertiary genetic centers”, permanent genetic divisions that provide comprehensive diagnostic treatment and counseling services.