Netflix points out that the story is “true-ish,” which is raising a lot of questions about what’s real and what’s made for TV in this fascinating series. So, is the Hirsch Institute real—or, at least, based on a real organization? Here’s the deal.

Early in the new Netflix miniseries “Apple Cider Vinegar,” the central character of Millie Blake is diagnosed with a rare cancer and told she must amputate her arm.