1990 Pandemics & Diseases Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1990 Pandemics & Diseases Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 04 Apr Gloria Estefan leaves hospital after spinal surgery: On April 4, 1990, singer Gloria Estefan was discharged from the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City, two weeks after undergoing spinal surgery to repair a broken vertebra sustained in a bus accident. Doctors estimated a full recovery within six months, and Estefan expressed gratitude for the support received during her recovery. source: latimes.com
- 08 Apr Ryan White passes away from AIDS-related complications: Ryan White, an American teenager who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS after being diagnosed with the disease, passed away on April 8, 1990. His story raised awareness about the disease and the stigma surrounding it, leading to significant changes in public perception and policy regarding HIV/AIDS. White's legacy continues to influence discussions on health and social justice. source: cdc.gov
- 12 May WHO removes homosexuality from mental disorders list: On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), acknowledging that it is not a mental disorder. This decision marked a significant shift in global health perspectives, aligning with earlier actions by other medical organizations. The change was officially adopted by the Forty-third World Health Assembly on May 17, 1990. source: dw.com
- 17 May WHO removes homosexuality from mental illness classification: On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), no longer classifying it as a mental disorder. This decision marked a significant shift in the global understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, aligning with earlier actions by the American Psychiatric Association, which had declassified homosexuality as a mental illness in 1973. The WHO's move was based on the consensus that same-sex attractions and behaviors are normal variations of human sexuality and not indicative of mental health issues. source: firstpost.com
- 04 Jun Dr. Jack Kevorkian assists first patient in suicide: On June 4, 1990, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a Michigan pathologist, assisted 54-year-old Janet Adkins from Portland, Oregon, in ending her life using his 'suicide machine.' Adkins, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, met Kevorkian in a secluded park near Detroit, where she activated the device that administered a lethal dose of drugs. This event marked the beginning of Kevorkian's controversial campaign advocating for physician-assisted suicide. source: cbsnews.com
- 08 Oct Joseph E. Murray and E. Donnall Thomas awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine: On October 8, 1990, the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Joseph E. Murray and E. Donnall Thomas for their groundbreaking work in organ and cell transplantation. Murray's research led to the first successful human kidney transplant, while Thomas's work focused on bone marrow transplantation, both significantly advancing treatments for human diseases. source: nobelprize.org
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