FDA says Bristol-Myers diabetes drug appears to meet standards for heart safety

WASHINGTON - Federal health officials in the United States said Monday a potential blockbuster diabetes medication from Bristol-Myers Squibb appears free from heart-related side effects that have plagued similar treatments....More

FDA approves Novartis drug that slows tumour growth in kidney cancer

WASHINGTON - A drug from Novartis has won U.S. approval as a treatment for patients with kidney cancer that has returned after treatment with older drugs....More

Doctor complains of faulty cancer tests, poor conditions in Interior Health

KELOWNA, B.C. - A doctor's allegations of "jaw dropping practices" taking place at Okanagan Health Service Laboratories have either been addressed or discounted according to B.C.'s health minister....More

Daughter confronts mom's planned suicide; family has chance for long goodbye

Maxine Poris spent that chilly January week with her two daughters watching movies, trading stories about their childhood, even ordering the rare daiquiri for lunch. If there was any time for drinking, they figured, this was it....More

Born just a few weeks early may delay development

CHICAGO - Babies born just a few weeks early face higher odds of developmental delays and behavior problems that show up in kindergarten, a study of nearly 160,000 children found....More

B.C. doctors, province reach agreement to improve access to patient care

VANCOUVER, B.C. - B.C. doctors and the provincial government have agreed to a two-year contract that's designed to increase access to patient care. The deal will see improved efforts to recruit and retain specialists and family physicians for rural B.C. communities....More

American Medical Association seeks probe of journal editors' actions

CHICAGO - The American Medical Association is seeking an investigation of claims that editors of its leading medical journal threatened a whistleblower who pointed out a researcher's conflict of interest....More

Alabama doctor who lost his right arm to cancer now helps others

DOTHAN, Ala. - Having to undergo radiation treatments five days a week can take its toll on a patient, but having a doctor who is a cancer survivor himself can make it easier. Dr....More

16 patients of VA clinics that used unsterile equipment have infections

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Viral infections, including hepatitis, have been found in 16 patients exposed to contaminated equipment at Veterans Affairs medical facilities, a department spokeswoman said Friday....More

Study: Running triathlons can pose deadly heart risks to participants

ORLANDO, Fla. - Warning to weekend warriors: Swim-bike-run triathlons pose at least twice the risk of sudden death as marathons do, the first study of these competitions has found. The risk is mostly from heart problems during the swimming part....More

Stroke-blocking device shows promise, doctors say

ORLANDO, Fla. - A novel device to treat a common heart problem that can lead to stroke showed promise in testing, but not without risk, new research shows....More

Ex-CFIA inspector: Lax meat import rules could lead to outbreaks, bioterrorism

OTTAWA - A retired food inspector is warning lax meat import rules leave Canada vulnerable to bioterrorism and outbreaks of dangerous bacteria such as Listeria....More

Panel advises depression screening for U.S. teens

CHICAGO - An influential government-appointed medical panel is urging doctors to routinely screen all American teens for depression - a bold step that acknowledges that nearly 2 million teens are affected by this debilitating condition....More

Daughter confronts mom's planned suicide; family has chance for long goodbye

Maxine Poris spent that chilly January week with her two daughters watching movies, trading stories about their childhood, even ordering the rare daiquiri for lunch. If there was any time for drinking, they figured, this was it....More

Born just a few weeks early may delay development

CHICAGO - Babies born just a few weeks early face higher odds of developmental delays and behavior problems that show up in kindergarten, a study of nearly 160,000 children found....More

Alabama doctor who lost his right arm to cancer now helps others

DOTHAN, Ala. - Having to undergo radiation treatments five days a week can take its toll on a patient, but having a doctor who is a cancer survivor himself can make it easier. Dr....More

Pet perils: Cats, dogs cause more than 86,000 serious falls annually: CDC

ATLANTA - Watch out for Fluffy and Fido! Cats and dogs are a factor in more than 86,000 serious falls each year, according to the first U.S. government study of pet-related tumbles. Such incidents are relatively rare, accounting for just about one per cent of injuries from falls....More

Obama's version of universal health care probably won't look like Canada's

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama is intent on providing affordable health care to every American, he said Thursday, but emulating Canada's system isn't necessarily the route he wants to take....More

N.B. government to fund experimental cancer treatment for three-year-old boy

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's health minister has agreed to pay for an experimental procedure needed to save the life of a three-year-old cancer patient from Cap-Pele....More

Most Americans should eat less salt but they don't, CDC study concludes

ATLANTA - Seven out of 10 Americans should restrict their salt consumption, but very few of them do, according to a new government study. About 145 million U.S....More

Kidney stones in children on the rise, thanks to too much salt, too little water

CHICAGO - Doctors are puzzling over what seems to be an increase in the number of children with kidney stones, a condition some blame on kids' love of cheeseburgers, fries and other salty foods....More

Canadians using more prescription drugs, drug-tracking firm reports

TORONTO - Canadians are taking more prescription drugs than ever before, and increasingly those medicines are generic versions rather than brand-names, says a company that tracks worldwide pharmaceutical sales....More

B.C. doctors report wants addiction recognized as chronic disease

VICTORIA, B.C. - Alcoholics and drug addicts deserve the same help and compassion from the health-care system as diabetics and cancer patients, concludes a report from the B.C. Medical Association....More

China says hand, foot and mouth virus has killed 18 children this year

BEIJING - Chinese health officials said Friday that hand, foot and mouth disease has sickened 41,000 people across the country and killed 18 children so far this year....More

Study: Male circumcision helps prevent HIV and two other STDs

LOS ANGELES - Circumcision not only protects against HIV in heterosexual men, but it also helps prevent two other sexually transmitted infections, a large new study found....More

Study finds that few U.S. hospitals are using digital records

LOS ANGELES - U.S. hospitals have a long way to go to join the digital age. Fewer than two per cent have abandoned paper medical charts and completely switched to electronic health records, a new national survey found....More

Nurses can be used more to reduce wait times in health system: report

TORONTO - Changes are needed to reduce wait times across the health-care system, going beyond the five areas targeted by the First Ministers a few years ago, says a report released Wednesday by the Canadian Nurses Association....More

Health officer advises Manitobans to be careful what they drink during flooding

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's chief medical health officer is advising people to be careful of the water they drink during flooding and spring runoff. Dr....More

Disabled B.C. girl awarded $3.2 million damages for bungled birth

VANCOUVER, B.C. - The B.C. Supreme Court has awarded an 11-year-old girl $3.2 million in damages for problems with her birth that has left her severely disabled. Cassidy Ediger's mother Carolyn Ediger of Chilliwack, B.C....More

Cancer concerns have states mulling whether to ban teens from tanning beds

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Miss Florida Teen USA Kayla Collier was 15 when she first visited a tanning salon so the stage lights at a local pageant wouldn't make her fair skin look ghostly white....More

Belinda Stronach opens up about her breast cancer to raise funds for centre

TORONTO - Belinda Stronach has had her share of being in the public eye, but it wasn't the most comfortable place to be when she learned she had breast cancer and decided not to seek re-election as an MP....More

B.C. program lets hospital fast track surgeries and slash wait lists

VANCOUVER, B.C. - An innovative project at a Vancouver hospital is fast-tracking surgeries for people languishing on wait lists with painful foot, ankle, hand or wrist conditions. Dr....More

Ombudsman to investigate health-care agency in Hamilton Niagara region

TORONTO - Ontario's ombudsman is launching an investigation into a regional health-care agency in the Hamilton-Niagara region....More

Nova Scotia spending millions on system to provide health advice over phone

HALIFAX, N.S. - Starting in July, Nova Scotians will be able to get certain kinds of health-care advice and information over the phone. The provincial government says it will cost about $6....More

New helmet standard aimed at making skiing, snowboarding safer

TORONTO - Wearing a helmet while skiing or snowboarding can reduce the risk of a head injury by 60 per cent. But not all helmets are created equal, says the Canadian Standards Association, which is introducing certification testing under a new standard....More

Medical device maker Hospira cutting 10 per cent of workforce: 1,450 jobs

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Hospira Inc., which makes drug delivery systems and devices, said Tuesday it will eliminate 10 per cent of its workforce in a restructuring plan....More

High school student in Windsor, Ont., tests positive for tuberculosis

WINDSOR, Ont. - The Windsor-Essex Health Unit says a high school student has tested positive for tuberculosis. The student, who attends Forester High School, is undergoing treatment and not attending classes. Tests were carried out at the school two weeks ago....More

Health Canada may consider regulating how snow sport helmets made

TORONTO - Health Canada has begun public consultations on whether ski and snowboard helmets should be required by law to meet new guidelines by the Canadian Standards Association....More

Get over your pride and use a cane if you need one, campaign urges seniors

TORONTO - Actor Don Harron recently started using a cane, and now he's lending his alter ego Charlie Farquharson to a campaign to help other seniors consider the benefits of assistive devices that keep people steady on their feet....More

Alzheimer's cost triple that of other elderly: U.S. study

CHICAGO - The health care costs of Alzheimer's disease patients in the United States are more than triple those of other older people, and that doesn't even include the billions of hours of unpaid care from family members, a new report suggests....More

Simcoe hospital restricts visitors after scabies infects patients, staff member

SIMCOE, Ont. - Simcoe's Norfolk General Hospital has put visitor restrictions in place after two patients and a staff member became infected with scabies. The itchy infection is caused by tiny mites that burrow under the skin....More

Personalized medicine: Hunting tailored care for advanced prostate cancer

WASHINGTON - Prostate cancer has been left behind in the race for personalized medicine but that may be changing: Doctors are starting to attempt gene-guided treatment for men with advanced disease. It's an approach already offered in treating breast and certain other cancers....More

Medical emergencies in the air rise as more people with existing conditions travel

TORONTO - If you've ever been on a plane, feeling a little dizzy or under the weather, the thought might cross your mind: How would the airline deal with a medical emergency in the air? In fact, it's a relatively common occurrence, and each airline has its own set of protocols...More

Large U.S. study suggests that lots of red meat increases mortality risk

CHICAGO - The largest study of its kind finds that older Americans who eat large amounts of red meat and processed meats face a greater risk of death from heart disease and cancer....More

Health Canada issues reminder that safest place for baby to sleep is a crib

Health Canada warned Monday that babies should not be placed to sleep in car seats, strollers and in other products that aren't specifically meant for an unattended sleeping baby. It says the safest place for an unsupervised baby to sleep is alone in a crib on his or her back....More

Alcohol flush signals cancer risk for East Asians: study

WASHINGTON - Turn a bit red when you drink a mere half bottle of beer? If you're of East Asian descent, consider that a warning: You may be at higher risk of alcohol-caused esophageal cancer....More

New helmet standard aimed at making skiing, snowboarding safer

TORONTO - Wearing a helmet while skiing or snowboarding can reduce the risk of a head injury by 60 per cent. But not all helmets are created equal, says the Canadian Standards Association, which is introducing certification testing under a new standard....More

Alzheimer's cost triple that of other elderly: U.S. study

CHICAGO - The health care costs of Alzheimer's disease patients in the United States are more than triple those of other older people, and that doesn't even include the billions of hours of unpaid care from family members, a new report suggests....More

Canadian-made Ebola vaccine used by German researcher exposed in lab accident

TORONTO - An experimental vaccine against the deadly Ebola virus made by researchers at Canada's national laboratory in Winnipeg was given to a German scientist who may have been infected during a lab accident last week....More

Alberta Health says reuse of dirty syringes posed very low risk to the public.

EDMONTON - Alberta Health says the reuse of dirty syringes by some care providers posed a very low risk to the public....More

Hundreds of Windsor students to be screened for TB after peer tests positive

WINDSOR, Ont. - Hundreds of a students at a Windsor high school will be tested for tuberculosis. The testing comes after one student, who travels extensively, recently tested positive....More

B.C.'s care home regulations to prevent people from wandering off

VANCOUVER, B.C. - The B.C. government is bringing in tougher regulations for residential care homes that will make operators more accountable with their hiring practices, incident reporting and ensuring people don't wander off....More

Ontario man recognized as Canadian living longest with dialysis

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - A man from Peterborough, Ont., is being recognized today as the Canadian who has lived longest on dialysis. Normally, people with kidney malfunction who depend on dialysis live on average for 10 to 15 years....More

Feds quietly chop money for fetal alcohol program

OTTAWA - Federal money earmarked to fight the tragedy of fetal alcohol disorders has been quietly chopped back year after year, says a new report. "Each year the initiative has received only a portion of the dollars allocated," says an internal evaluation....More

Polio patient wins multimillion-dollar lawsuit against drugmaker

NEW YORK - A New York man with polio has won a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against a drugmaker claiming he contracted the disease 30 years ago from the polio vaccine given to his infant daughter. Dominick Tenuto was awarded $22.5 million Friday in a New York state court....More

Canadian researchers launch trial to test better latent tuberculosis therapy

TORONTO - Canadian researchers are about to embark on a quest for an answer that could make treating latent tuberculosis a lot easier and, it's hoped, more frequently successful. Led by McGill University's Dr....More

Sudbury nursing home closed to visitors after suspected norovirus outbreak

SUDBURY, Ont. - Visitors are being turned away from a Sudbury, Ont., nursing home because of a suspected case of norovirus. Finlandia Village's nursing home branch is experiencing an outbreak that health officials believe is norovirus, also known as the Norwalk virus....More

Skiers don helmets at Que. resort where Richardson suffered fatal head injury

MONT-TREMBLANT, Que. - There were a lot of helmets on display Thursday among the people skiing at the Mont Tremblant resort near the beginner's hill where actress Natasha Richardson suffered a fatal head injury....More

Ski accident involving famous actress highlights need for helmet laws

MONTREAL - The fatal injuries sustained by British actress Natasha Richardson after a spill at a Quebec ski resort have renewed debate over the idea of making helmets mandatory for snowboarders and downhill skiers....More

Maggots no better than medical gel for healing leg ulcers, study suggests

TORONTO - The use of maggots to deep-clean leg ulcers has grown in popularity in recent years as a way to promote healing, but a pair of British studies suggest the creepy-crawlies offer little advantage over an easier-to-use topical medication....More

Immunization program expanded in southwestern Alta. after whooping cough outbreak

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - An outbreak of whooping cough in southwestern Alberta has prompted health officials to expand its vaccination program. Alberta Health Services declared an outbreak in January when five confirmed cases of pertussis were reported....More

Critic of Canada-style healthcare gets rough ride from U.S. politicians

WASHINGTON - A Canadian-born economist has assailed Canada's health-care system, warning congressional leaders looking into health-care reform they'd be heading down a costly path strewn with delays and inefficiencies if they emulated Canada....More

Canadian-made Ebola vaccine used by German researcher exposed in lab accident

TORONTO - An experimental vaccine against the deadly Ebola virus made by researchers at Canada's national laboratory in Winnipeg was given to a German scientist who may have been infected during a lab accident last week....More

Alberta Health says reuse of dirty syringes posed very low risk to the public.

EDMONTON - Alberta Health says the reuse of dirty syringes by some care providers posed a very low risk to the public....More

Mixed reaction from parents on peanut allergy advance; many remain dubious

CONCORD, N.H. - One mom says she'd be first in line for a promising treatment that exposes children with peanut allergies to tiny amounts of peanut flour. Another remains fearful, with the painful image of her son's face blown up beyond recognition still fresh in her mind....More

Massive studies report but there's still doubt whether PSA test saves lives

TORONTO - Opposing sides in the longstanding debate over whether PSA testing reduces prostate cancer deaths have been anxiously waiting for the results of two massive clinical trials....More

Kellogg's CEO calls for major food safety reforms

WASHINGTON - Tony the Tiger's boss says a food safety overhaul would be Gr-r-reat! The Kellogg Co.'s top official is urging U.S. legislators to revamp the food safety system....More

Does PSA screening save lives? Jury is still out, massive studies show

TORONTO - Two massive clinical trials experts hoped would provide a definitive answer to the question of whether prostate cancer screening saves lives have come up in a disappointing draw. Taken together, the interim results of both a U.S....More

B.C. sets $109 fine for people smoking in cars with kids under 16

VICTORIA, B.C. - B.C. drivers who smoke with kids in the car will face a $109 fine under new provincial regulations that take effect next month....More

Arab child's sickbed is part of the battleground on the West Bank

WADI FUQEEN, West Bank - Asil Manasra, a six-year-old Palestinian girl, was in her eighth month of intensive treatment at an Israeli hospital for complications arising from a long bout of tuberculosis when she was abruptly forced to stop the visits....More

Sudbury nursing home closed to visitors after suspected norovirus outbreak

SUDBURY, Ont. - Visitors are being turned away from a Sudbury, Ont., nursing home because of a suspected case of norovirus. Finlandia Village's nursing home branch is experiencing an outbreak that health officials believe is norovirus, also known as the Norwalk virus....More

Immunization program expanded in southwestern Alta. after whooping cough outbreak

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - An outbreak of whooping cough in southwestern Alberta has prompted health officials to expand its vaccination program. Alberta Health Services declared an outbreak in January when five confirmed cases of pertussis were reported....More

More evidence links diabetes to Alzheimer's risk, researchers say

WASHINGTON - You've heard that diabetes hurts your heart, your eyes, your kidneys. New research indicates a more ominous link: That diabetes increases the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease and may speed dementia once it strikes....More

Medical journal article says Taser stun to the head can cause seizures

OTTAWA - Stun guns can cause seizures if their tiny electric barbs pierce the scalp and shock the brain, says a new article on the accidental jolting of a police officer....More

Cheap booze? British tradition under threat

LONDON - Two-for-one specials. Alcopops to make booze tasty to teens. Supermarket prices that reward buying in bulk. And pubs on every street corner, making it easy to start your day with a liquid lunch....More

Natasha Richardson could have suffered blood clot inside skull, experts say

TORONTO - The fall that actress Natasha Richardson took on a Quebec ski hill could have caused one of several brain injuries, say doctors who deal with the all too common head trauma....More

Man medically discharged from RCMP after Mayerthorpe murders sues Mounties

EDMONTON - A second man who served with the RCMP in Mayerthorpe is suing the Mounties for the trauma he says he suffered after four of his fellow officers were gunned down near the small Alberta town....More

Foot massage helps people feel better, gains toehold in Southern California

SAN GABRIEL, Calif. - Ching Lau is already the sole man of Southern California, but he won't be satisfied until every American has beaten a path to the door of a foot massage parlour. For Lau isn't just a businessman. He's a man on a mission....More

Feds to test taps for cancer contaminants

OTTAWA - The federal government is ordering tests of Canada's drinking water over concerns it may contain contaminants thought to raise the risk of cancer and other health problems....More

B.C. nurses get 6 per cent pay boost in 2-year contract extension

VANCOUVER, B.C. - B.C. nurses will get a six per cent pay increase over the next two years as part of a contract extension negotiated with the provincial government. The pay boost for 30,000 members of the B.C. Nurses Union comes on top of a 4....More

Passenger on Frankfurt-to-Detroit flight diagnosed with tuberculosis

ROMULUS, Mich. - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a passenger on a Northwest Airlines flight from Frankfurt to Detroit has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Northwest says the passenger was on Tuesday's Flight 51 to Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus....More

What the nails know: Fingernails can provide early warning of health problems

TORONTO - Fortune tellers say they can divine a person's destiny by reading the lines in the palm of the hand. But when it comes to discerning the state of one's health, turning the hand over is far more illuminating....More

Researchers question wisdom, benefits of eating dwindling fish supplies

For years, doctors, nutritionists and even your mother have issued a common entreaty at the dinner table - eat more fish. Conventional thinking has it that the marine fare can do everything from help hearts recover from surgery to boost brain power and lower cholesterol....More

Public Health Agency says Quebec man died of listeriosis in January

MONTREAL - The Public Health Agency of Canada says a Quebec man died of listeriosis in January. The agency says the Quebec Health Department reported the man became ill in November but it is impossible to determine what caused the infection....More

Possible therapy takes bite out of peanut allergy is good news for millions

WASHINGTON - A handful of children once severely allergic to peanuts now can munch them without worry. Scientists retrained their bodies to tolerate peanuts by feeding them tiny amounts of the very food that endangered them. Don't try this on your own....More

More evidence links diabetes to Alzheimer's risk, researchers say

WASHINGTON - You've heard that diabetes hurts your heart, your eyes, your kidneys. New research indicates a more ominous link: That diabetes increases the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease and may speed dementia once it strikes....More

Medical journal article says Taser stun to the head can cause seizures

OTTAWA - Stun guns can cause seizures if their tiny electric barbs pierce the scalp and shock the brain, says a new article on the accidental jolting of a police officer....More

Cheap booze? British tradition under threat

LONDON - Two-for-one specials. Alcopops to make booze tasty to teens. Supermarket prices that reward buying in bulk. And pubs on every street corner, making it easy to start your day with a liquid lunch....More

Lack of vitamin D linked to teen health problems, study finds

DALLAS - New research in teenagers links low levels of vitamin D to high blood pressure and high blood sugar, which can lead to ominous early health problems....More

Chain of living donors results in 10 kidney swaps among strangers

When Matthew Jones decided to donate a kidney to a stranger, the Michigan father of five had no idea he'd be starting a lifesaving, "pay it forward" chain....More

Business Roundtable report: U.S. on short end of health care 'value gap'

WASHINGTON - If the global economy were a 100-metre dash, the U.S. would start 23 metres behind its closest competitors because of health care that costs too much and delivers too little, a business group says in a report to be released Thursday....More

Study links heavier drinking to increase prevalence for prostate cancer

VANCOUVER, B.C. - An international research team from Canada, the U.S. and Australia, reviewing 35 studies that examined the relationship between drinking levels and the risk of developing prostate cancer, found that heavier alcohol users were more likely to develop the cancer....More

Steadman Hawkins Clinic mends prominent athletes, including A-Rod

VAIL, Colo. - The Shark has been through here. So have Picabo and Kobe. Now, A-Rod has taken a turn. The Steadman Hawkins Clinic is where high-profile athletes go when their bodies need fixing and their careers are in the balance....More

Obama says U.S. food safety system a health 'hazard'

WASHINGTON - The American food safety system is a "hazard to public health" and overdue for an overhaul, President Barack Obama said Saturday as he filled the top job at the Food and Drug Administration....More

ER's use of surgical checklist thrill to research team behind safety program

TORONTO - If the surgical safety checklist were an actor, it would have earned a Screen Actors Guild card for the role it played in Thursday's pivotal episode of the medical drama "ER." The safe surgery tool saved the day - and a donor kidney destined for the ailing Dr....More

Passenger on Frankfurt-to-Detroit flight diagnosed with tuberculosis

ROMULUS, Mich. - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a passenger on a Northwest Airlines flight from Frankfurt to Detroit has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Northwest says the passenger was on Tuesday's Flight 51 to Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus....More

Student at the University of Regina has infectious TB; classmates offered testing

REGINA - A University of Regina student is being treated for tuberculosis and hundreds of his classmates may have to be tested for the highly contagious disease....More

Quebec judge's ruling on surrogate birth raises legal questions: lawyer

MONTREAL - A judge had little choice but to deny adoption rights to a mother who paid a surrogate to carry her baby for her, the vice-president of a lawyers' association said Thursday....More

Online searches for 'listeriosis' spiked weeks before outbreak revealed: study

TORONTO - Online searches for the term "listeriosis" spiked several weeks before last summer's outbreak of the illness was revealed to the public, an article reviewing Internet-based disease surveillance systems shows....More

More doctors, foreign-trained grads licensed in Ontario than ever before: report

TORONTO - More doctors were licensed in Ontario last year than ever before, with the number of foreign-trained physicians reaching a record high, says a new report to be released Thursday....More

Massachusetts doctor accused of fabricating pain studies

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - A Massachusetts anesthesiologist has been accused of fabricating results in nearly two dozen published studies that claimed to show after-surgery benefits from painkillers including Vioxx and Celebrex. Dr....More

Lack of vitamin D linked to teen health problems, study finds

DALLAS - New research in teenagers links low levels of vitamin D to high blood pressure and high blood sugar, which can lead to ominous early health problems....More

Chain of living donors results in 10 kidney swaps among strangers

When Matthew Jones decided to donate a kidney to a stranger, the Michigan father of five had no idea he'd be starting a lifesaving, "pay it forward" chain....More

Business Roundtable report: U.S. on short end of health care 'value gap'

WASHINGTON - If the global economy were a 100-metre dash, the U.S. would start 23 metres behind its closest competitors because of health care that costs too much and delivers too little, a business group says in a report to be released Thursday....More

Acne is another bump from the recession; stress a leading cause of breakouts

NEW YORK - Here's another bump in the landscape of economic meltdown: adult acne. Stress is a leading cause of breakouts, and there's no shortage of that these days in the office of Oakland, Calif.-based Dr. Katie Rodan....More

York University study finds checking a leading cause of injury in youth hockey

TORONTO - A study led by York University says bodychecking in youth hockey leagues is associated with an increased risk of injury to players. The study, a review of published research from Canada, the U.S....More

Massachusetts doctor accused of fabricating pain studies

BOSTON - A Massachusetts anesthesiologist has been accused of fabricating results in nearly two dozen published studies that claimed to show after-surgery benefits from painkillers including Vioxx and Celebrex. Dr....More

Student at the University of Regina has infectious TB; classmates offered testing

REGINA - A University of Regina student is being treated for tuberculosis and hundreds of his classmates may have to be tested for the highly contagious disease....More

More doctors, foreign-trained grads licensed in Ontario than ever before: report

TORONTO - More doctors were licensed in Ontario last year than ever before, with the number of foreign-trained physicians reaching a record high, says a new report to be released Thursday....More

Massachusetts doctor accused of fabricating pain studies

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - A Massachusetts anesthesiologist has been accused of fabricating results in nearly two dozen published studies that claimed to show after-surgery benefits from painkillers including Vioxx and Celebrex. Dr....More

Chain of living donors results in 10 kidney swaps among strangers

When Matthew Jones decided to donate a kidney to a stranger, the Michigan father of five had no idea he'd be starting a lifesaving, "pay it forward" chain....More

Business Roundtable report: U.S. on short end of health care 'value gap'

WASHINGTON - If the global economy were a 100-metre dash, the U.S. would start 23 metres behind its closest competitors because of health care that costs too much and delivers too little, a business group says in a report to be released Thursday....More

Obama overturns Bush policy on stem cells, paving way for more research

WASHINGTON - Reversing Bush policy, President Barack Obama on Monday cleared the way for a significant increase in federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research and promised no scientific data will be "distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda....More

More evidence that depression is hard on the heart: Nurses' Health Study

WASHINGTON - Severe depression may silently break a seemingly healthy woman's heart. Doctors have long known that depression is common after a heart attack or stroke, and worsens those people's outcomes....More

Chemical fumes force evacuation of 400 from Denver hospital

DENVER - Some 400 people have been evacuated from National Jewish Health hospital in Denver because of fumes from a mixture of hazardous chemicals. Hospital spokesman William Allstetter says most of those evacuated Monday were staff members....More

Canadian scientists cheer Obama's stem cell decision, but worry about brain drain

TORONTO - Canadian scientists are thrilled U.S. President Barack Obama is loosening strictures on American stem cell research, saying a stronger U.S. presence will only help advance the field. But several also worry that Canada may face a brain drain because the U.S....More

Tests could find ovarian cancer early, British study reports

LONDON - Doctors screening women for ovarian cancer were able to pick up the disease about two years earlier than normal, according to a British study published Wednesday....More

More evidence prostate tests overdiagnose cancer: study

WASHINGTON - As many as two of every five men whose prostate cancer was caught through a PSA screening test have tumours too slow-growing to ever be a threat, says a new study that raises more questions about the controversial tests....More

Calgary biotech firm poised to benefit from Obama reversal of stem cell ban

CALGARY - Stem cell research is expected to thrive now that U.S. President Barack Obama has overturned his predecessor's restrictions on research in that area, says the chief executive of a Canadian biotech firm working on drugs used to treat strokes....More

Acne is another bump from the recession; stress a leading cause of breakouts

NEW YORK - Here's another bump in the landscape of economic meltdown: adult acne. Stress is a leading cause of breakouts, and there's no shortage of that these days in the office of Oakland, Calif.-based Dr. Katie Rodan....More

What's the best medicine - really? U.S. researchers tackle the problem

WASHINGTON - Think your doctor knows which drug - or surgery or even diagnostic test - works best? Think again. Half the time, there's little if any good evidence comparing one to another....More

What does the doctor talk to your teenager about?

NEW YORK - If you're the parent of a tween or teen, chances are you've been asked to leave the room during your child's visit to the doctor so they can have a private chat. Now of course I believe that teenagers should have a trusting relationship with their doctors....More

Virginia governor to sign smoking ban in Marlboro's home state

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The home state of Marlboro and the world's largest cigarette factory is set to ban most smoking in restaurants and bars. Gov. Tim Kaine plans to sign legislation today in Virginia Beach that takes effect Dec. 1....More

Temperature change associated with severe headaches, Boston study finds

TORONTO - Headache sufferers often blame a change in the weather for their malady, and a new study lends a little more credence to their belief - at least in the area of temperature change....More

Obama overturns Bush policy on stem cells, paving way for more research

WASHINGTON - Reversing Bush policy, President Barack Obama on Monday cleared the way for a significant increase in federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research and promised no scientific data will be "distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda....More

More evidence that depression is hard on the heart: Nurses' Health Study

WASHINGTON - Severe depression may silently break a seemingly healthy woman's heart. Doctors have long known that depression is common after a heart attack or stroke, and worsens those people's outcomes....More

Chemical fumes force evacuation of 400 from Denver hospital

DENVER - Some 400 people have been evacuated from National Jewish Health hospital in Denver because of fumes from a mixture of hazardous chemicals. Hospital spokesman William Allstetter says most of those evacuated Monday were staff members....More

Canadian scientists cheer Obama's stem cell decision, but worry about brain drain

TORONTO - Canadian scientists are thrilled U.S. President Barack Obama is loosening strictures on American stem cell research, saying a stronger U.S. presence will only help advance the field. But several also worry that Canada may face a brain drain because the U.S....More

Advent of ED drugs 'transformative' for seniors sex but issues remain: experts

TORONTO - What with the ubiquitous TV ads featuring people smug with sexual satisfaction and the spam that jams your email account, it seems impossible to believe erectile dysfunction or ED drugs haven't been with us for decades....More

Protests greet news Hollywood pulling plug on hospital for its own

LOS ANGELES - In 1940, Hollywood humanitarian Jean Hersholt purchased almost 20 hectares of walnut and orange groves in the far reaches of the San Fernando Valley for a hospital to be run by the Motion Picture Relief Fund....More

Health, environment departments take action on four substances

TORONTO - The federal government is proposing to add a number of substances to a hotlist that will prevent them from being used in cosmetics. Some of the substances also have industrial uses, and were assessed under the government's Chemicals Management Plan....More

Health Canada warns against sodium phosphate products to cleanse bowels

TORONTO - Health Canada says Canadians should not use oral sodium phosphate products as bowel cleansers unless they're recommended by a health-care practitioner....More

Southern Canadians now more active than northerners: new study

Northerners weigh more and exercise less than their southern cousins, and new research suggests the growing gap between the regions could be setting up the Arctic for higher rates of chronic disease from strokes to diabetes....More

Quebec docs report rise in baby tourism but furious when foreigners skip on bill

MONTREAL - Neither Ottawa nor Quebec has immediate plans to address complaints from Quebec doctors who cite a rise in maternity tourism, a situation considered problematic when foreigners default on their financial obligations....More

Obama to reverse Bush-era stem cell policy with announcement Monday

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's announcement Monday that he is overturning his predecessor's policies toward embryonic stem cells also will include a broad declaration that science - not political ideology - would guide his administration....More

Genetic research homes in on cause of childhood brain tumour

TORONTO - Canadian researchers have pinpointed a family of eight genes that are mutated in patients with the most common form of childhood brain cancer, and they hope their discovery will lead to a more targeted means of treating the devastating disease....More

Doctors seek gag orders to stop patients' reviews on websites

CHICAGO - Some doctors have started fighting back against ugly Internet reviews by asking patients to abide by what are effectively gag orders that bar them from posting negative comments online....More

'Octomom' spawns bills limiting embryo implants

ATLANTA - Legislators in two states, outraged by California's "Octomom," are seeking to limit the number of embryos that may be implanted by fertility clinics....More

N.L. health board chief promises compensation, apologizes for botched tests

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Patients who received flawed breast cancer tests will be compensated, the chief of Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health board promised Thursday as she apologized for failing their expectations....More

How erectile dysfunction drugs work: It's all about the cyclic GMP

TORONTO - Viagra, Cialis, Levitra - these medications belong to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 or PDE5 inhibitors. Michael Adams, a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont....More

Health Canada surveys canned drinks, finds low levels of bisphenol A

TORONTO - The chemical bisphenol A, already banned from baby bottles, has been detected in samples of almost every canned drink product tested by Health Canada....More

Calgary study suggests no one is monitoring who gets MRIs first

CALGARY - The time it takes a patient who needs an MRI scan to actually get one varies widely across Canada and no one is making sure that urgent cases are handled quickly, a new study suggests. "There's tremendous inconsistency across the country," said Dr....More

Alberta reverses 2005 decision and approves cancer drug Avastin for coverage

EDMONTON - Alberta has joined other provinces in approving Avastin, a high-priced cancer drug that has been costing some patients and their families thousands of dollars per month....More

Advent of ED drugs 'transformative' for seniors sex but issues remain: experts

TORONTO - What with the ubiquitous TV ads featuring people smug with sexual satisfaction and the spam that jams your email account, it seems impossible to believe erectile dysfunction or ED drugs haven't been with us for decades....More

Premiums for Alta. Blue Cross non-group coverage nearly doubling

EDMONTON - Albertans who have Blue Cross for drug coverage will see the cost of their premiums triple in the next few months. Starting July 1, 2009, premiums for a single person will jump from $20.50 per month to $41 month, while for a family it will rise to $82 a month from $41....More

Ontario plans to go after tobacco companies over health-care costs of smoking

TORONTO - Ontario is looking to become the latest jurisdiction to go after tobacco companies for misrepresenting the health risks of smoking and costing the province billions of dollars....More

Ohio parents say Pennsylvania hospital harvested son's organs

PITTSBURGH - The parents of an 18-year-old Ohio man who suffered a brain injury while snowboarding claim in a lawsuit doctors at a northwestern Pennsylvania hospital intentionally killed him so they could harvest his organs....More

National body urges three provinces to regulate lab technologists

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Patient safety in three provinces and northern Canada may be at risk because medical laboratory technologists there aren't regulated, a national body warned Wednesday in the wake of Newfoundland and Labrador's botched breast cancer testing scandal....More

Listeria discussion focused on routine trade issues: Maple Leaf CEO

TORONTO - The president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods denied Wednesday that the company discussed Listeria with government officials last July in relation to any food-safety issue, saying the matter only came up in the context of U.S. trade regulations....More

Is my chemo working? PET scans may give faster answer to doctors, patients

NEW YORK - When Mike Stevens learned his lungs were riddled with cancer, it took only a week to start chemotherapy - but six weeks to find out if it was doing any good....More

Doctors seek gag orders to stop patients' reviews on websites

CHICAGO - Some doctors have started fighting back against ugly Internet reviews by asking patients to abide by what are effectively gag orders that bar them from posting negative comments online....More

'Octomom' spawns bills limiting embryo implants

ATLANTA - Legislators in two states, outraged by California's "Octomom," are seeking to limit the number of embryos that may be implanted by fertility clinics....More

Seeing booze tippled in film or TV ads can boost viewers' consumption: study

TORONTO - For the first time, researchers have shown that watching characters knock back a beer or quaff another alcoholic beverage in films, TV shows or advertisements can have an immediate effect on how much viewers imbibe themselves....More

Oversight failed 'at all levels,' N.L. inquiry into flawed cancer tests finds

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland's largest health board might have detected problems with its breast cancer tests six years earlier than it did if it delved deeper into a patient's questionable test result in 1999, an inquiry concluded Tuesday....More

Nurses protest Canadian Blood Services plan to replace them as screeners

TORONTO - Canadian Blood Services and several nurses unions are at odds over a proposal to reduce the number of nurses working at blood donor clinics across the country. The blood agency said safety remains its No....More

Number of MRIs doubles, but poor getting even less than before: study

TORONTO - An infusion of cash to cut long MRI wait times has doubled the number of the annual diagnostic scans performed in Ontario since 2004, but the increase seems to be benefiting wealthy patients far more than their poorer counterparts, a study has found....More

HPV vaccine a tough sell in parts of Canada; vaccination rates high in Quebec

CALGARY - Government HPV vaccine programs for girls have been rolling out across the country for more than a year now, but they're still a tough sell for some Canadians....More

Feds, Maple Leaf discussed Listeria before deadly outbreak

OTTAWA - Contrary to earlier claims, the subject of Listeria was broached by federal officials and Maple Leaf Foods prior to a deadly outbreak last summer that was linked to tainted meat products, documents show....More

China's courts accept tainted milk suits

BEIJING - For months, courts across China refused to accept lawsuits from families whose children were killed or sickened in a tainted milk scandal....More

National body urges three provinces to step up regulation of lab technologists

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - A national body representing medical lab staff is calling on three provinces to step up regulation of lab technologists in the wake of Newfoundland and Labrador's botched breast cancer testing scandal....More

B.C. government changes rules for optometrists and chiropractors

VICTORIA - The B.C. government is expanding the practice for the province's optometrists and streamlining regulations for chiropractors under the Health Professionals Act....More

Washington state to allow 'dignity' deaths

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Terminally ill patients with less than six months to live will soon be able to ask their doctors to prescribe them lethal medication in Washington state....More

Study suggests live nasal-spray flu vaccine not as effective in adults

TORONTO - A live-virus flu vaccine applied in a nasal spray rather than an injection doesn't appear to be as effective as the standard flu shot in adults, a large U.S. study suggests....More

Some good news: report says fewer kids have high lead levels

CHICAGO - In a stunning improvement in children's health, far fewer kids have high lead levels than 20 years ago, new government research reports - a testament to aggressive efforts to get lead out of paint, water and soil....More

Obstetricians urge more autopsies to unravel tragedy of stillbirth

WASHINGTON - Adding to the devastation of her daughter Clare being stillborn is the fact that Erin Fogarty Owen doesn't know why: What went wrong in a pregnancy that seemed textbook? And that unknown means Owen is facing her new pregnancy with as much fear as joy, repeating what...More

N.L. gov't to release inquiry report into faulty breast cancer tests Tuesday

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The report from a judicial inquiry into hundreds of faulty breast cancer tests in Newfoundland and Labrador will be publicly released Tuesday....More

HPV vaccine a tough sell in parts of Canada; vaccination rates high in Quebec

CALGARY - Government HPV vaccine programs for girls have been rolling out across the country for more than a year now, but they're still a tough sell for some Canadians....More

Number of MRIs doubles, but poor getting even less than before: study

TORONTO - An infusion of cash to cut long MRI wait times has doubled the number of the annual diagnostic scans performed in Ontario since 2004, but the increase seems to be benefiting wealthy patients far more than their poorer counterparts, a study has found....More

Baxter admits contaminated seasonal flu product contained live bird flu virus

The company that released contaminated flu virus material from a plant in Austria confirmed Friday that the experimental product contained live H5N1 avian flu viruses....More

Researchers find new method for turning adult cells into stem cells

TORONTO - Canadian researchers have developed a new method for generating stem cells from adult human tissue, a move they believe will bring the dream of personalized regenerative medicine a step closer to reality....More

N.L. delays release of report into botched breast cancer tests

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The report of an inquiry into botched breast cancer tests in Newfoundland and Labrador has been delivered to the provincial government, which had announced earlier Sunday it would have to delay the report's public release because it had not received the document....More

Father alleges delay in proper medical treatment led to son losing sight in eye

AIRDRIE, Alta. - The father of a 10-year-old Alberta boy who has permanently lost sight in one eye claims it was due to delays in medical treatment. Corey Wall says his son, Chase, got a sinus infection in his right eye two weeks ago....More

China says food safety situation still grim

BEIJING - China's food safety situation is still grim, although some improvements have been made in the wake of a scandal last year that killed at least six babies and made another 300,000 sick, the Health Ministry said Monday....More

B.C. government changes rules for optometrists and chiropractors

VICTORIA - The B.C. government is expanding the practice for the province's optometrists and streamlining regulations for chiropractors under the Health Professionals Act....More

Washington state to allow 'dignity' deaths

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Terminally ill patients with less than six months to live will soon be able to ask their doctors to prescribe them lethal medication in Washington state....More

Some good news: report says fewer kids have high lead levels

CHICAGO - In a stunning improvement in children's health, far fewer kids have high lead levels than 20 years ago, new government research reports - a testament to aggressive efforts to get lead out of paint, water and soil....More