Quebec says it could save hundreds of millions if Ontario cuts drug costs

MONTREAL - Quebec is rubbing its hands in anticipation of Ontario's plans to limit prescription drug costs, which could trigger millions in savings for its own cash-strapped health system....More

China lifts 20-year ban on people with HIV from entering the country

BEIJING - China has lifted a two-decade-old ban on people with HIV and AIDS from entering the country, just as it is about to welcome the world to the Shanghai Expo....More

On the other hand: Researchers isolate gene for rare mirror movement disorder

TORONTO - When Andree Marion moves one hand, the other automatically mimics the motion. If she wriggles the toes on one foot, the toes on her other move too. It's not a nervous habit, at least not in the classical sense, although it does relate to her nervous system....More

Graco and more Simplicity cribs recalled; Simplicity cribs linked to death

WASHINGTON - The U.S. government recalled thousands of Simplicity and Graco cribs Thursday, warning that babies could suffocate or strangle in them....More

Doctors use 1 man's genetic sequence to predict disease risk, response to drugs

LONDON - The next time Stephen Quake is prescribed a drug, he says he won't worry about having a bad reaction. The Stanford University professor will simply consult his genome to see if there are any warning signs in his DNA....More

B.C. hospital unveils program that lets mothers drop off unwanted babies

VANCOUVER, B.C. - New mothers who want to give up their infants because they face addiction, poverty, or are still just children themselves, will soon be able to walk away after anonymously dropping their babies off at a Vancouver hospital. St....More

Australia poised to force tobacco companies to sell cigarettes in plain packs, a world first

SYDNEY, Australia - Tobacco companies would be forced to use plain, logo-free packaging on their cigarettes in a bid to make them less attractive to smokers under legislation introduced Thursday by Australia's government, which dubbed the move a world-first....More

WHO says 32 polio cases confirmed in Tajikistan, vaccination campaign being set up

GENEVA - The World Health Organization says 32 cases of polio have been confirmed in Tajikistan as health workers are setting up a nationwide vaccination campaign....More

5-minute colon cancer test could cut number of cases by one-third, experts say

LONDON - A five-minute colon cancer test could reduce the number of deaths from the disease by about 40 per cent, a new study says. British researchers followed more than 170,000 people for about 11 years....More

Vitamin E shows promise for treating obesity-related fatty liver disease

LOS ANGELES - People with a common, obesity-related liver disease that has no known treatment got a surprising benefit from vitamin E pills, researchers reported Wednesday....More

Thousands of patients await free dental, medical, vision care at Los Angeles clinic

LOS ANGELES - They began arriving before dawn on a cold, misty morning, people of all ages lining up by the hundreds, some in wheelchairs, others hobbling on crutches, many of them missing teeth, all of them seeking the same thing: free medical care....More

Surgeons to step up job action if on-call availability and pay not reinstated

VANCOUVER, B.C. - The B.C. Orthopaedic Association says surgeons who are staging job action in the Fraser Health Authority region will step up their protest if medical on-call availability times aren't reinstated soon. Dr....More

Quebec says it could save hundreds of millions if Ontario cuts drug costs

MONTREAL - Quebec is rubbing its hands in anticipation of Ontario's plans to limit prescription drug costs, which could trigger millions in savings for its own cash-strapped health system....More

China lifts 20-year ban on people with HIV from entering the country

BEIJING - China has lifted a two-decade-old ban on people with HIV and AIDS from entering the country, just as it is about to welcome the world to the Shanghai Expo....More

Graco and more Simplicity cribs recalled; Simplicity cribs linked to another infant death

WASHINGTON - The U.S. government has recalled thousands of Simplicity and Graco cribs Thursday, warning that babies could suffocate or strangle in them....More

Australia poised to force tobacco companies to sell cigarettes in plain packs, a world first

SYDNEY, Australia - Tobacco companies would be forced to use plain, logo-free packaging on their cigarettes in a bid to make them less attractive to smokers under legislation introduced Thursday by Australia's government, which dubbed the move a world-first....More

Harper defends Tories' G8 abortion stand, says Canada can fund other projects

OTTAWA - A full-blown abortion debate - one the government said it never wanted - exploded in Parliament on Monday, but the reignited political brawl centred on the poorest of pregnant women a world away....More

EU panel votes to crack down on illegal medicines that are worth C10.5 billion a year

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The battle against counterfeit medicines took a big step forward Tuesday when the European Parliament public health panel approved a bill to crack down on a fast growing industry worth C10.5 billion ($14 billion) a year in Europe alone....More

Diabetics with failing kidneys should avoid big doses of vitamin B: study

TORONTO - Diabetics with impaired kidneys should avoid taking high doses of certain B vitamins because the supplements may do serious harm, researchers say....More

CEO of Newmarket, Ont. health centre collected $3M over five years

OSHAWA, Ont. - A union representing Ontario's hospital workers is calling for the province to cap hospital CEO salaries after one executive collected nearly $3 million in compensation over five years....More

AIDS experts see Iranian methodone clinics, needle exchanges as possible model

LIVERPOOL, England - Health experts are holding up a perhaps unlikely country as a model for fighting AIDS in drug users: Iran....More

5-minute colon cancer test could cut number of cases by one-third, experts say

LONDON - A five-minute colon cancer test could reduce the number of deaths from the disease by about 40 per cent, a new study says. British researchers followed more than 170,000 people for about 11 years....More

Thousands of patients await free dental, medical, vision care at Los Angeles clinic

LOS ANGELES - They began arriving before dawn on a cold, misty morning, people of all ages lining up by the hundreds, some in wheelchairs, others hobbling on crutches, many of them missing teeth, all of them seeking the same thing: free medical care....More

China lifts 20-year ban on people with HIV from entering the country

BEIJING - China has lifted a two-decade-old ban on people with HIV and AIDS from entering the country, just as it is about to welcome the world to the Shanghai Expo....More

Nursing positions cut as Ontario hospitals struggle to balance budgets: NDP

TORONTO - Ontario's New Democrats say health services are suffering because nurses are being laid off across the province. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says patients will be impacted because a government panel is recommending 121 registered nursing positions be cut in Peterborough....More

Networking power of the web shifting power balance between docs and patients

TORONTO - Rebecca Cooney may have a debilitating, degenerative disease, but that doesn't mean she's ready to automatically defer to the authority of the medical community. "I've never been a person who thinks somebody else can make decisions for me....More

Itchy eyes, runny nose? Allergy season comes early with explosion of pollen

TORONTO - Oh, those itchy, watery eyes, runny nose and constant sneezing. What's going on? Isn't it awfully early for allergy season? Well, normally the answer would be yes, say experts. But not this spring, which follows the mildest and driest Canadian winter on record....More

Dirty-bomb test created to fight terrorism may help cancer radiation therapy

WASHINGTON - With a few drops of blood, scientists are creating a way to tell who's absorbed dangerous radiation levels, part of the U.S. government's preparations against a terrorist attack - and research that just might point toward new cancer care, too....More

Britons burned by Chinese 'toxic sofas' to receive compensation

LONDON - A British court says hundreds of people who received chemical burns from leather sofas will share 20 million pounds, or about $30 million, in compensation....More

North Korea launches medical videoconference network with help of WHO

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea formally launched a medical videoconference network Tuesday aimed at giving smaller, rural hospitals access to specialists in the capital Pyongyang with the help of the World Health Organization....More

North Korea launches medical teleconference network with help of WHO

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea formally launched a medical teleconference network Tuesday aimed at giving smaller, rural hospitals access to specialists in the capital Pyongyang with the help of the World Health Organization....More

Canadian kids still getting failing grade on physical activity report card

TORONTO - Most Canadian kids are still failing to make the grade when it comes to meeting recommended physical activity guidelines, and fewer than half of youngsters under five are integrating physical activity into their daily routines, says a report released Tuesday....More

Spanish hospital claims world's 1st full-face transplant, says patient is pleased with results

MADRID, Spain - A hospital in Spain says it has carried out the world's first full-face transplant, giving a man a new nose, skin, jaws, cheekbones, teeth and other features after he lost his face in an accident....More

Psychedelic psychotherapy? Study tests magic mushroom drug on cancer anxiety

NEW YORK - The big white pill was brought to her in an earthenware chalice. She'd already held hands with her two therapists and expressed her wishes for what it would help her do. She swallowed it, lay on the couch with her eyes covered, and waited. And then it came....More

People vaccinated in '76 swine flu scare may have had protection against H1N1

TORONTO - A new study says vaccine used in the 1976 swine flu scare probably provided some protection against H1N1. The U.S. study tested the blood of employees of a Memphis, Tenn., hospital who were vaccinated in 1976 to see if they produced antibodies to the H1N1 flu virus....More

N.L. psychiatrists say numbers too small to deal with mental health demands

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Psychiatrists are the latest medical group in Newfoundland and Labrador to say they need help. Child psychiatrist Dr. Kim St. John says recruitment and retention is now a critical issue....More

Deadly strain of meningitis hits Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso - A strain of meningitis that has rarely caused big outbreaks in Africa has killed more than 700 people in Burkina Faso this year....More

AIDS vaccine researcher in South Africa for conference says recent strides give new hope

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - A leader in the search for a vaccine against HIV, which causes AIDS, said Friday that recent advances have given scientists new reason for hope. In an interview with The Associated Press, Dr....More

Questions remain for N.L. doctors over meaning of government's contract offer

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Doctors in Newfoundland and Labrador want the government to clarify its latest contract offer before they respond to it....More

Food agency recalls contaminated chicken product in Quebec

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled a chicken product distributed in Quebec because of a possible listeria contamination. Cuisine Bernart Chicken Supreme "Tomate Basilic" was sold in 325-gram trays with a best-before date of April 26, 2010....More

500 Victoria patients warned about possible infections from dirty equipment

VICTORIA, B.C. - Almost 500 patients who were diagnosed for liver, pancreas and gallbladder problems at Victoria General Hospital have been warned they may have been examined with unsanitary equipment. Dr....More

Vatican, opposed to embryonic cell use, finances adult stem cell study by American university

ROME - The Vatican will finance new research into the potential use of adult stem cells in the treatment of intestinal and possibly other diseases, officials announced Friday....More

Vatican finances adult stem cell research led by American university

ROME - The Vatican says it will finance new research into the potential use of adult stem cells in the treatment of intestinal and possibly other diseases....More

Swine flu provides test run for next epidemic, but Mexicans grappling with its lessons

MEXICO CITY - When this city of 8.7 million awoke one year ago to confusing news of a new virus, it sent the world on a wild six-month roller-coaster ride of fear and frantic action....More

Spanish hospital says it has carried out world's 1st full face transplant in 24-hour surgery

MADRID, Spain - A hospital in Spain says it has carried out the world's first full-face transplant....More

Spanish hospital says it has carried out world's 1st full face transplant in 24-hour surgery

MADRID, Spain - A hospital in Spain said it had carried out the world's first full-face transplant, giving a young man who lost his in an accident a new nose, skin, jaws, cheekbones, teeth and other features....More

N.L. psychiatrists say numbers too small to deal with mental health demands

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Psychiatrists are the latest medical group in Newfoundland and Labrador to say they need help. Child psychiatrist Dr. Kim St. John says recruitment and retention is now a critical issue....More

Deadly strain of meningitis hits Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso - A strain of meningitis that has rarely caused big outbreaks in Africa has killed more than 700 people in Burkina Faso this year....More

HIV rate in Cdn prisons rivals that of some African countries: advocacy groups

TORONTO - Rates of HIV among inmates in federal prisons appear to be rising dramatically, suggests a report, prompting advocacy groups to call for sweeping changes to prevent further spread of the disease, both inside the institutions and in the community at large....More

Hit and miss: N.S. minister hopes to increase number of organ donations

HALIFAX, N.S. - Nova Scotia's approach to organ donation is a "hit-and-miss" affair that requires new rules to ensure doctors follow through on the wishes of potential donors, the province's health minister said Wednesday....More

Hindsight may be 20-20, but wrong prism for judging H1N1 response:

TORONTO - Judging the world's response to the H1N1 pandemic requires a special perspective - looking at the past through eyes that aren't clouded by the present, suggests the man leading an international review of the global pandemic response. Dr....More

Experts urge parents to keep an eye on children and teens watching 3-D TV

MONTREAL - 3-D or not 3-D? That's the question many TV lovers are asking now that the three-dimensional experience has come to the small screen....More

Dishwasher injuries: 2 youngsters need stitches after being cut on sharp edge

TORONTO - Health Canada is warning of a possible new danger lurking in the kitchen: the dishwasher. It issued an advisory Wednesday that there have been two separate reports of young children being injured while playing next to the dishwasher in the family kitchen....More

Canada asks Norway to help its G8 plan to reduce deaths of poor kids, moms

OTTAWA - The Harper government turned to Norway to help salvage its showpiece G8 maternal and child health initiative after facing heavy criticism for apparently excluding family planning from the project....More

UNICEF says measles outbreaks reported in 16 countries in West and Central Africa, killing 185

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - The U.N. children's agency says 16 countries in West and Central Africa are experiencing a measles outbreak this year. UNICEF said Thursday that 185 people have died among more than 22,000 cases....More

Chinese health officials say those who dumped dead babies near river will be punished

BEIJING - China's top health body said Thursday that health workers who improperly dispose of dead babies will be "severely dealt with" following an investigation into the dumping of several bodies along a river in eastern China....More

Police investigate tampering with surgical tools at Kamloops hospital

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - The RCMP are investigating allegations that surgical tools were tampered with at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, B.C. Police are looking into an incident involving the cleaning and sterilization of instruments....More

Ontario takes war with pharmacists over generic drugs to YouTube, Internet

TORONTO - Ontario's governing Liberals are moving their escalating drug war with pharmacists to the Internet. A day after pharmacies launched an ad campaign to protest funding cuts, the government opened a YouTube channel and website to get their message across....More

NFL gives $1 million for brain injuries research to BU School of Medicine

NEW YORK - The NFL is donating US$1 million for the study of brain injuries to Boston University School of Medicine....More

Game over for brain training games? Study says computer brain games don’t make you smarter

LONDON - People playing computer games to train their brains might as well be Playing Super Mario, New Research Suggests....More

Federal eHealth agency admits goal not reachable in 2010

OTTAWA - The $1.6-billion agency responsible for giving every Canadian an electronic health record acknowledges it won't meet a key target. Canada Health Infoway Inc....More

Doctors group calls on Ontario government to relight fight against tobacco

TORONTO - The Ontario Medical Association is calling on the province to take steps to help smokers butt out and to prevent others from taking up the habit....More

Butting out on the beaches: Vancouver council passes outdoor smoking ban

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Smoking has long been banned in pubs and restaurants, in airplanes and workplaces. But Vancouver is taking its campaign to convince smokers to butt out into new territory with a municipal ban on smoking... outdoors....More

British experts asks how far society should go to boost supply of organs

LONDON - An influential British medical think-tank is tackling the question of how far society should go to boost the number of organ and tissue donors, and is weighing a proposal to pay for body parts....More

Life imitates art: 'holodeck' therapy to help rehabilitate wounded vets

EDMONTON - Wounded soldiers and injured civilians will soon be using technology reminiscent of the holodeck on old Star Trek movies to help regain their physical and mental confidence....More

UN buys millions of malaria bednets; experts wonder if they get to African kids

LONDON - Health groups have spent more than a billion dollars and bought millions of bednets to fight malaria, and 20 African countries have increased their bednet coverage at least fivefold, new research says....More

Study shows risks, benefits of tamoxifen, Evista for preventing breast cancer

MILWAUKEE - Older women at higher risk for breast cancer now have two good drug options for preventing the disease, but they will have to weigh the trade-offs, a major study shows. Tamoxifen, the longtime gold standard, is more effective and longer lasting, the results show....More

Lung cancer screening can lead to high false alarms, unneeded biopsies: study

NEW YORK - Screening smokers for cancer with lung scans can lead to a high rate of false alarms, unneeded tests and biopsies, a new study suggests. Some hospitals are promoting lung cancer screening with a special X-ray called a CT scan....More

How trauma doctors got creative to save teen from usually deadly gunshot wound

WASHINGTON - He felt like he was suffocating, struggling to breathe despite the bullet hole in his chest....More

Chiropractors treat infants: Gentle touch is key when taking care of babies

CALGARY - Cassandra Murray is a true believer in the benefits of infant chiropractic care. The 35-year-old mother of four from High River, Alta., just south of Calgary, has been bringing her brood to Calgary chiropractor Dr....More

British experts ask how far society should go to boost supply of organs

LONDON - An influential British medical think-tank is tackling the question of how far society should go to boost the number of organ and tissue donors, and is weighing a proposal to pay for body parts....More

British experts asks how far society should go to boost supply of organs

LONDON - An influential British medical think-tank is tackling the question of how far society should go to boost the number of organ and tissue donors, and is weighing a proposal to pay for body parts....More

AIDS advocacy group to target 9 California porn agencies in labour complaints

LOS ANGELES - An AIDS advocacy group said Thursday it would file labour complaints against nine porn talent agencies for promoting actors who are willing to have unprotected sex on camera....More

UN warns Europeans to stay indoors but other experts say little risk from falling volcanic ash

GENEVA - Europeans should try to stay indoors if ash from Iceland's volcano starts settling, the World Health Organization warned Friday as small amounts fell in Iceland, Scotland and Norway....More

UN health agency says falling volcano ash does pose health risks, urges people to stay indoors

GENEVA - Europeans should try to stay indoors if ash from Iceland's volcano starts settling, the World Health Organization warned Friday as small amounts of ash fell in Iceland, Scotland and Norway....More

Rowdy crowd of Sask health workers try to collar Sask premier on labour impasse

MELFORT, Sask. - A large, rowdy crowd of Saskatchewan health-care workers chanted outside a fundraising dinner for Premier Brad Wall Thursday night in Melfort, hoping to convince the premier to get involved in their labour impasse....More

Nurse practitioners may be able to discharge in-patients in the future: McGuinty

TORONTO - Nurse practitioners could soon be allowed to admit and discharge in-patients in order to ease the flow of traffic at the province's hospitals, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Friday....More

'Threats' to seniors over drug changes outrageous: Ontario health minister

TORONTO - A Shoppers Drug Mart flyer telling seniors and people covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan that services they receive could be at risk due to government cuts is outrageous and misleading, the province's health minister said Friday....More

Report says either improve or replace Canadian Blood Services in New Brunswick

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick is being advised to launch an independent blood system or find a new partner if Canadian Blood Services doesn't remain in the province and improve service....More

Life imitates art: 'holodeck' therapy to help rehabilitate wounded vets

EDMONTON - Wounded soldiers and injured civilians will soon be using technology reminiscent of the holodeck on old Star Trek movies to help regain their physical and mental confidence....More

Small drug stores stand with big chains in coalition against Ont. funding cuts

TORONTO - Independent pharmacist Bryan Hastie says if Ontario eliminates professional allowances paid to drug stores by generic drug manufacturers, he may have to join his larger competitors and cut staff - but at his husband-and-wife operation, that means closing shop....More

Ontario doctors slam report that says hospital pay needs to be overhauled

TORONTO - The fight over Ontario's multibillion-dollar health care pie got downright nasty Thursday, after a report said physicians in the province cost significantly more than their counterparts elsewhere in Canada....More

Obama calls for greater hospital access to patients by non-family members

WASHINGTON - Hospitals that accept Medicare and Medicaid payments from the U.S. government must let patients choose which persons, including gay and lesbian partners, can visit them and help make critical health decisions, President Barack Obama said Thursday....More

Canadian researchers developing specialized video games for stroke treatment

TORONTO - Canadian researchers have high hopes for a new type of video game that could potentially change the way stroke sufferers receive treatment, while empowering therapists to either work with their patients longer or see more people every day....More

Canadian Food Inspection Agency issues warning about Kraft Tartar sauce

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Kraft Canada are warning people to be careful in consuming Kraft Tartar sauce. The agency says certain batches have an incorrect back label and contains egg ingredients which are not declared on the label....More

AIDS advocacy group to target 9 California porn agencies in labour complaints

LOS ANGELES - An AIDS advocacy group said Thursday it would file labour complaints against nine porn talent agencies for promoting actors who are willing to have unprotected sex on camera....More

WHO says falling volcano ash would pose health risks, urges people to stay indoors

GENEVA - The World Health Organization says Europeans should try to stay indoors if ash from Iceland's volcano starts raining down from the sky. WHO spokesman David Epstein says the agency doesn't know the exact health risks from the ash cloud....More

UN health agency says falling volcano ash does pose health risks, urges people to stay indoors

GENEVA - Europeans should try to stay indoors if ash from Iceland's volcano starts settling, the World Health Organization warned Friday as small amounts of ash fell in Iceland, Scotland and Norway....More

McGuinty says key concern is lower drug costs, not the health of pharmacies

TORONTO - Ontario's main concern in an escalating battle with pharmacists is lowering the cost of medications and not the ultimate makeup of the industry, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Wednesday, amid concerns that small pharmacies will have to close due to proposed changes to the...More

Lancet reports drop in maternal childbirth deaths, says it was pressured not to publish story

LONDON - The number of women dying in childbirth worldwide has dropped dramatically, a British medical journal reports, adding that it was pressured to delay its findings until after U.N. meetings this week on public health funding....More

Ignatieff nixes health-care user fees, reversing course on Quebec proposal

OTTAWA - Michael Ignatieff says a Liberal government would not allow provinces to impose health-care user fees. His assertion amounts to a reversal for the Liberal leader who initially gave thumbs up to a Quebec proposal to charge $25 for each visit to a doctor's office....More

Ignatieff flip-flops on health-care user fees amid grassroots revolt

OTTAWA - A brewing grassroots revolt prompted an abrupt about-face from Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff on Quebec's proposal to impose health-care user fees....More

Doctor who believes MS linked to blocked neck veins preaching caution

TORONTO - An Italian doctor who believes multiple sclerosis may be triggered by blocked neck veins defended his theory at a meeting of international neurologists Wednesday, but at the same time sounded a cautionary note to patients desperate for a cure. Dr....More

Christian Peacemaker Teams founding father Gene Stoltzfus dies of heart attack

FORT FRANCES, Ont. - Gene Stoltzfus, founder of the Christian Peacemaker Teams, died suddenly of a heart attack on March 10, ChristianWeek reported. He was 70....More

Chairman hopes to tackle bias among members of panel reviewing WHO's response to swine flu

GENEVA - The head of an expert group brought in to review the World Health Organization's response to the swine flu outbreak said Wednesday that some members of the panel would inevitably be biased because of their close links to the global body or national governments....More

Canadian Food Inspection Agency issues warning about Kraft Tartar sauce

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Kraft Canada are warning people to be careful in consuming Kraft Tartar sauce. The agency says certain batches have an incorrect back label and contains egg ingredients which are not declared on the label....More

Montreal researchers use man's own stem cells in bid to fix his failing heart

TORONTO - When doctors performed a coronary artery bypass on a Montreal man with a failing heart, they added a little something else before closing up his chest - stem cells purified from his bone marrow that they had removed earlier that day....More

McGuinty says he has no sympathy for big drug chains protesting changes

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty says he has no sympathy for big drug stores threatening to cut services over changes they say will hurt their bottom line....More

Fears that H1N1 vaccination drive would be '76 swine flu all over again allayed

TORONTO - A new study says reports of a paralyzing and potentially fatal condition following vaccination for H1N1 flu were low in the U.S....More

Drug store operator Rexall freezes corporate hiring, will begin charging for prescription drug deliveries

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Another drug store chain is ratcheting up the pressure on the Ontario government and its plans to rein in soaring drug costs, warning it will freeze hiring and start charging drug delivery fees because of lost revenues....More

Drug could curb involuntary outbursts of tears or laughter linked to MS, ALS

TORONTO - An experimental drug has been developed that could help people with a little-known condition that causes frequent, involuntary outbursts of laughing or crying....More

Dozens of countries unlikely to meet UN goals to reduce mother and child deaths

Dozens of countries are unlikely to meet U.N. goals to significantly reduce the deaths of mothers and children by 2015 without a new approach to health care and an additional $20 billion annually, according to a study released Tuesday....More

Doctors' malpractice fears contribute to more aggressive treatment: study

NEW YORK - A substantial number of heart doctors - about one in four - say they order medical tests that might not be needed out of fear of getting sued, according to a new study. Nearly 600 doctors in the U.S....More

Bird flu sickens 2 in Vietnam; 11 others quarantined, recovering from flulike symptoms

HANOI, Vietnam - Two Vietnamese from a poor, mountainous area have been infected with bird flu, and 11 others were quarantined with flulike symptoms, health officials said Tuesday....More

N.S. doctors urged to return some H1N1 vaccine in light of shortened expiry date

HALIFAX, N.S. - The Nova Scotia government is asking doctors to return any leftover adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine to local public health offices. The request follows Health Canada's announcement last week that the expiry date of the adjuvanted vaccine has been shortened by 12 months....More

Mother shares story of daughter's psychotic disorder to help other families

TORONTO - When her daughter started showing signs of disturbing behaviour and was eventually diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, Susan Inman was desperate for information about how to handle a teenager who was losing touch with reality....More

Laser hair removal business needs minimum training standards: Journal editorial

TORONTO - An editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal calls for minimum training standards for people who work in the laser hair removal business....More

Gates charity miffed by alleged conflict-of-interest involving federal official

MONTREAL - Bill Gates's charitable foundation has snuffed out a $5.2-million grant to a Canadian initiative to curb smoking in Africa, citing troubling federal links to the tobacco industry....More

Family, friends gather to remember Terry Fox launch of Marathon of Hope

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Family and friends of Terry Fox have gathered at the Mile Zero memorial in St. John's today where the Canadian icon began his Marathon of Hope 30 years ago to the day....More

DoGooder video awards recognize Canadian Cancer Society's hard-hitting video

TORONTO - An unscripted video by the Canadian Cancer Society featuring real cancer patients, survivors and caregivers was among the winners in an international contest for non-profit organizations....More

Allergic to the best cancer drug? Doctors offer possible way to keep taking it

WASHINGTON - Having a bad reaction to penicillin as a child doesn't guarantee you're still allergic decades later. And if the oncologist says you have to switch chemotherapies because of an allergic reaction, well, maybe not....More

Saskatchewan plan to use patient names for fundraising sickens Opposition

REGINA - The Saskatchewan government's plan to allow the names and addresses of former hospital patients to be used for fundraising is being called ill-advised by the NDP....More

Achoo! Pollen is everywhere, and plaguing allergy sufferers across the U.S.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Pollen: It's on your car, in the air and especially in your sinuses. From Florida to Texas to Colorado, 2010 is shaping up to be a monster of an allergy season. The words "pollen" and "allergy" are among the top 10 trending topics on Twitter in several U.S....More

Quebec health officials warn of lethal mix of cocaine, anti-parasite drug

MONTREAL - Quebec health officials are warning that cocaine cut with an anti-parasitic medication is hitting the streets in the province and can cause a severe adverse reaction in illicit drug users....More

Public being warned against some dry soup mixes over salmonella alert

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume a couple of brands of dry soup mix because of possible salmonella contamination....More

40 child deaths reported in China's latest outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease

BEIJING - A top Chinese leader called for stepped-up research into vaccines and drugs for hand, foot and mouth disease after 40 children died from outbreaks last month, a state news agency said Saturday. The Ministry of Health reported 77,756 cases of the disease in March....More

Panel of external experts starts review of WHO, international response to H1N1

TORONTO - A panel of external experts begins the task Monday of critiquing how the World Health Organization and the international community responded to the H1N1 pandemic....More

WHO chief wants 'frank and critical' review of its handling of swine flu outbreak

GENEVA - The head of the World Health Organization says she wants a "frank and critical" review of its handling of the swine flu pandemic....More

Paid-per-patient? B.C. health minister expected to announce new funding formula

VICTORIA, B.C. - B.C. hospitals could soon be competing for business under a new health funding formula expected to be introduced today....More

Family, friends gather to remember Terry Fox launch of Marathon of Hope

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Family and friends of Terry Fox have gathered at the Mile Zero memorial in St. John's today where the Canadian icon began his Marathon of Hope 30 years ago to the day....More

Ont. drug cost crackdown to inflict suffering on pharmacy jobs, services

TORONTO - Ontario's plan to scrap pharmacy allowances for generic drugs will inflict suffering on both drug stores and consumers as the industry hemorrhages jobs and cuts services, pharmacy retailers say....More

New Brunswick government to legislate language for province's health boards

FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick government has announced it will introduce legislation to define one of the province's two regional hospital authorities as French and the other as English....More

Lung damage suffered by New York 9-11 rescuers long lasting: study

NEW YORK - Most of the New York City firefighters and medics whose lungs were damaged by pulverized masonry and glass from the World Trade Center attacks are not improving as time goes by, according to a new study....More

Hazardous industries on checklist for additional safety inspectors in Manitoba

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is hiring five additional safety and health officers to help reduce injuries and illness in the workplace. The extra staff bring the total number of officers in Manitoba to 74 - an increase of 20 since 2007....More

British doctors separate conjoined Irish twins in 14-hour operation at London hospital

LONDON - British doctors say they successfully separated conjoined Irish twins in a London hospital. The twin boys, Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf, were born in Cork, Ireland, joined at the chest. They did not share any major organs....More

All emergency rooms in N.S. needed, but with smarter staffing: report

HALIFAX, N.S. - A doctor who looked into Nova Scotia's troubled emergency room system says all small emergency rooms across the province should remain open. Although Dr....More

60,000 Ontario students smoking contraband cigarettes; group wants crackdown

TORONTO - A coalition of health groups is calling on the Ontario government to do more to prevent kids from smoking contraband cigarettes. The Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco estimates more than 60,000 Ontario students who already smoke are puffing contraband cigarettes....More

National approach needed on care for mentally ill who abuse substances: report

TORONTO - People with both mental illness and an addiction would benefit from a pulling together of services to treat and care for them, suggests a new report that calls for a national approach to the problem....More

Saskatchewan regulator to review doctors who perform botox injections

SASKATOON - Laser surgery. Botox injections. Hair removal and hair transplants. More Saskatchewan physicians are performing these kind services to earn extra money than ever before and regulators plan to put the situation under the microscope....More

Researchers test if airway swab could predict which smokers are at highest risk of lung cancer

WASHINGTON - Scientists may have found a way to tell which smokers are at highest risk of developing lung cancer: measuring a telltale genetic change inside their windpipes....More

Palestinian conjoined twins undertake rare journey from Gaza to Saudi Arabia for surgery

The first known conjoined twins born in the Palestinian territories made a rare journey from the impoverished Gaza Strip to a Saudi hospital aboard a plane chartered by the Saudi king....More

MS patients eager for news of, chance for unproven Italian therapy

TORONTO - It hasn't been proven yet to be useful, but that isn't stopping people with multiple sclerosis from seeking an experimental treatment that has taken their community by storm....More

Manitoba government puts up cash for new air ambulance

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government has put up $6 million to purchase a new air ambulance. Health Minister Theresa Oswald says the jet will continue to ensure transportation for critically ill and injured people no matter where they live....More

In bid to drive generic drug costs down, Ontario eliminates pharmacist allowances

TORONTO - Ontario is scrapping an allowance pharmacists receive on generic drugs in a bid to reduce drug costs by half and make prescription medications available to more people, Health Minister Deb Matthews said Wednesday....More

FDA cites spas for marketing unapproved Lipodissolve injections to dissolve fat

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on what are billed as fat-melting injections used in spas across the U.S., saying the drugs have not been proven safe or effective....More

Colourful march brings issue of mercury poisoning to Ontario legislature

TORONTO - Ottawa and the provincial government must take action to protect members of a northwestern Ontario First Nation whose water and fish are contaminated with mercury, residents said Wednesday....More

Offering free flu shots to all prevents cases, saves lives and money: study

TORONTO - Ontario's universal seasonal flu vaccine program is a cost-effective measure because it reduces the number of people who get sick, averts hospital admissions and saves lives, an economic analysis suggests....More

Lace up those sneakers: Study suggests going out for a walk lowers stroke risk for women

DALLAS - Women can lower their stroke risk by lacing up their sneakers and walking, a new study suggests. Women who said they walked briskly had a 37 per cent lower risk of stroke than those who didn't walk....More

In down economy, U.S. births to older moms still rising; declines for other ages

ATLANTA - U.S. births fell in 2008, probably because of the recession, updated government figures confirm. The one exception to the trend was the birth rate among women in their 40s, who perhaps felt they didn't have the luxury of waiting for better economic times....More

Higher vitamin D levels could save thousands of lives a year: economic analysis

TORONTO - A new study estimates that if more Canadians increased their intake of vitamin D, the death rate could fall by 16 per cent, or as many as 37,000 premature deaths a year....More

Gairdner awards recognize doctor who did malaria research, six others

TORONTO - The seven recipients of the 2010 Canada Gairdner Awards were announced Tuesday, with each to receive a prize of $100,000 to recognize their work in the field of medical research. Dr....More

Controversial flu vaccine study finally published, but questions raised linger

TORONTO - A set of controversial studies that suggested getting a previous seasonal flu shot doubled a person's risk of catching pandemic H1N1 last spring has finally been published - though the mystery of whether the finding is real remains....More

Study examines why so few young men seek sexual health information and treatment

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Nurses at a youth clinic in Vancouver say there's a troubling imbalance in just who is walking through their doors to seek sexual-health information and treatment: almost all of them are female....More

Palestinian conjoined twins undertake rare journey from Gaza to Saudi Arabia for surgery

The first known conjoined twins born in the Palestinian territories made a rare journey from the impoverished Gaza Strip to a Saudi hospital aboard a plane chartered by the Saudi king....More

Bulgarian authorities say dead bird tests positive for H5N1 virus

SOFIA, Bulgaria - Bulgarian officials say a dead bird found near the Black Sea port of Varna has tested positive for the deadly H5N1 virus. The agriculture ministry said Thursday the tests on a common buzzard were conducted at the national veterinary....More

Health care reform promise explicitly excludes millions of illegal immigrants in US

FRESNO, Calif. - Paula Medrano shifts uncomfortably on the doctor's examination table, holding out a wrist inflamed and swollen by arthritis. The 78-year-old has no health insurance, lives below the federal poverty level, and can't pay for the medication she needs....More

Blood therapy trendy among top athletes, but doubt cast on whether it works

FORT MYERS, Fla. - With opening day around the corner, Cliff Lee didn't have time for another abdominal strain. The former Cy Young Award winner had a similar injury twice before in spring training, and on both occasions it kept him out at least six weeks....More

Toronto hospital's 'urban village' integrates mentally ill patients

TORONTO - Originally erected in 1850 as the Ontario Lunatic Asylum and enclosed on all sides by a solid brick wall, Canada's largest hospital for treating mental illness is undergoing a radical transformation that could make it a model for the rest of the country....More

Study says babies' lives, health costs saved if 90 per cent of US women breast-fed for 6 months

CHICAGO - The lives of nearly 900 babies would be saved each year, along with billions of dollars, if 90 per cent of U.S. women breast-fed their babies for the first six months of life, a cost analysis says....More

Study results: Experts say lithium doesn't slow Lou Gehrig's disease

LONDON - Lithium doesn't help patients with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, contrary to previous study results, new research says. Results from a small study published two years ago suggested the drug, often used for depression, could slow the fatal neurological disorder....More

One hour daily exercise fights effect of 'fatso' gene in teenagers

CHICAGO - One hour of moderate to vigorous exercise a day can help teens beat the effects of a common obesity-related gene with the nickname "fatso," according to a new European study....More

Focus shifts from eating good to eating well as chefs join healthy diet campaign

MIAMI - Jamie Oliver is using fresh fruit and vegetables to try to win the hearts, or at least the fatty arteries, of a West Virginia city. Rachael Ray is working to reform school lunches....More

Taxes on pop too small to cut consumption or childhood obesity, study suggests

ATLANTA - Small taxes on soda pop do little to reduce soft drink consumption or prevent childhood obesity, but larger levies probably would, according to new research....More

NDP calls Ont. government cruel for scrapping special diet allowance

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government was branded "cruel and heartless" Thursday for scrapping a special diet allowance of up to $250 a month for people living on social assistance....More

N.S. reviews impact of marijuana pot ruling on other treatments

HALIFAX, N.S. - The Nova Scotia government is concerned about the potential implications of a court order requiring it to pay for the medical marijuana of a woman on social assistance....More

Bulgarian authorities say dead bird tests positive for H5N1 virus

SOFIA, Bulgaria - Bulgarian officials say a dead bird found near the Black Sea port of Varna has tested positive for the deadly H5N1 virus. The agriculture ministry said Thursday the tests on a common buzzard were conducted at the national veterinary....More

Study says babies' lives, health costs saved if 90 per cent of US women breast-fed for 6 months

CHICAGO - The lives of nearly 900 babies would be saved each year, along with billions of dollars, if 90 per cent of U.S. women breast-fed their babies for the first six months of life, a cost analysis says....More

Health care reform promise explicitly excludes millions of illegal immigrants in US

FRESNO, Calif. - Paula Medrano shifts uncomfortably on the doctor's examination table, holding out a wrist inflamed and swollen by arthritis. The 78-year-old has no health insurance, lives below the federal poverty level, and can't pay for the medication she needs....More

Blood therapy trendy among top athletes, but doubt cast on whether it works

FORT MYERS, Fla. - With opening day around the corner, Cliff Lee didn't have time for another abdominal strain. The former Cy Young Award winner had a similar injury twice before in spring training, and on both occasions it kept him out at least six weeks....More

Study says babies' lives, health costs saved if 90 per cent of US women breast-fed for 6 months

CHICAGO - The lives of nearly 900 babies would be saved each year, along with billions of dollars, if 90 per cent of U.S. women breast-fed their babies for the first six months of life, a cost analysis says....More

ER death may warrant criminal charges, lawyer says; Wpg police will look into it

TORONTO - The case of a homeless double amputee who died after 34 hours in a hospital emergency room may warrant criminal charges and the failure of police to investigate is "inexplicable and shocking," a prominent lawyer said Wednesday....More

Child once at centre of heart transplant drama back in hospital on life-support

TORONTO - A seriously ill child who defied death a year ago after her parents had offered her heart to another infant is on life-support in a Toronto hospital. Kaylee Vitelli is on a respirator after experiencing severe seizures while on a walk with her mom on Tuesday evening....More

Alberta delays changes to seniors drug plan

EDMONTON - The Alberta government says it is delaying changes to its new drug plan for seniors. The plan, which was supposed to take effect July 1, includes sliding premiums based on household income....More

US surveys find H1N1 flu vaccination rates highest in New England

ATLANTA - New England leads the United States in swine flu vaccinations, while the South has the lowest rates, U.S. health officials said Thursday in the first state-by-state report on turnout....More

Taxes on pop too small to cut consumption or childhood obesity, study suggests

ATLANTA - Small taxes on soda pop do little to reduce soft drink consumption or prevent childhood obesity, but larger levies probably would, according to new research....More

NDP calls Ont. government cruel for scrapping special diet allowance

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government was branded "cruel and heartless" Thursday for scrapping a special diet allowance of up to $250 a month for people living on social assistance....More

N.S. reviews impact of marijuana pot ruling on other treatments

HALIFAX, N.S. - The Nova Scotia government is concerned about the potential implications of a court order requiring it to pay for the medical marijuana of a woman on social assistance....More

Bulgarian authorities say dead bird tests positive for H5N1 virus

SOFIA, Bulgaria - Bulgarian officials say a dead bird found near the Black Sea port of Varna has tested positive for the deadly H5N1 virus. The agriculture ministry said Thursday the tests on a common buzzard were conducted at the national veterinary....More

Rochette receives standing ovation at celeb fashion show promoting heart health

TORONTO - Joannie Rochette received a rousing standing ovation as she took to the runway Wednesday in a special style showcase promoting awareness about heart health....More

Program for young Internet addicts finds the demand for help growing

TORONTO - In the year since Dr. Bruce Ballon has been running a program for Internet addicts, he's seen about 50 young people pass through the doors and another 50 or so receive help over the phone....More

Ottawa takes wait-and-see approach to Quebec plan for $25 doctor's visits

MONTREAL - A potential precedent-setting plan by one province to start charging patients $25 for a doctor's visit is not being blocked by the federal government - at least not for now....More

Nova Scotia company shuts website selling unauthorized health product

TORONTO - Health Canada says an unauthorized health product has been found on the Canadian market that contains both ephedrine and caffeine, which could cause serious adverse effects and even death when combined....More

New standard meant to protect workers in confined spaces like mines, grain silos

TORONTO - An agricultural silo filled with grain. A mine shaft. An underground hydro vault. These are but a few of the myriad confined spaces that thousands of Canadian workers enter as part of their jobs every day - and where they may be putting their lives at risk....More

ER death may warrant criminal charges, lawyer says; Wpg police will look into it

TORONTO - The case of a homeless double amputee who died after 34 hours in a hospital emergency room may warrant criminal charges and the failure of police to investigate is "inexplicable and shocking," a prominent lawyer said Wednesday....More

Child once at centre of heart transplant drama back in hospital on life-support

TORONTO - A seriously ill child who defied death a year ago after her parents had offered her heart to another infant is on life-support in a Toronto hospital. Kaylee Vitelli is on a respirator after experiencing severe seizures while on a walk with her mom on Tuesday evening....More

Alberta delays changes to seniors drug plan

EDMONTON - The Alberta government says it is delaying changes to its new drug plan for seniors. The plan, which was supposed to take effect July 1, includes sliding premiums based on household income....More