Section 550.100  Definitions

The definitions listed in this Section apply to this Part.

"Act" means the Head and Spinal Cord Injury Act [410 ILCS 515].

"Bona Fide Researcher" means an individual with prior experience in conducting published medical or epidemiological studies. This includes but is not limited to prior experience with the publications of medical and/or epidemiological research, or scientific affiliation with a hospital or accredited U.S. university. The researcher must, at minimum, possess a master’s degree from an accredited U.S. university in a medical or scientific discipline.

"Council" means the Advisory Council on Spinal Cord and Head Injuries, created within the Department of Rehabilitation Services pursuant to Section 6 of the Act. (Section 1 of the Act)

"Department" means the Department of Public Health. (Section 1 of the Act)

"Head Injury" means a sudden insult or damage to the brain or its coverings, not of a degenerative nature, which produces an altered state of consciousness or temporarily or permanently impairs mental, cognitive, behavioral or physical functioning. Cerebral vascular accidents, aneurysms and congenital deficits are excluded from this definition. (Section 1 of the Act)

"Hospital" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Hospital Licensing Act [210 ILCS 85].

"Spinal Cord Injury" means an injury that occurs as a result of trauma, which involves spinal vertebral fracture, or where the injured person suffers any of the following effects: effects on the sensory system including numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in the body or in one or more extremities; effects on the motor system including weakness or paralysis in one or more extremities; effects on the visceral system including bowel or bladder dysfunction or hypotension. (Section 1 of the Act)

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 15700, effective August 30, 2022)