US drug agency panel unanimously approves experimental hepatitis drug from Vertex Pharma

WASHINGTON - U.S. government health experts say an experimental hepatitis C drug from Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a significant step forward in treating the virus, despite a high rate of rashes among patients taking the tablet....More

Too high a dose of thyroid drug raises fracture risk in older adults, study says

TORONTO - Older adults prescribed a drug for an underactive thyroid should be regularly monitored to ensure they aren't taking too high a dose that can put them at an increased risk for hip and other fractures, researchers say....More

Simple checklist a possible way to screen 1-year-olds for risk of autism: study

WASHINGTON - A simple checklist that parents fill out in the waiting room may help doctors someday screen for warning signs of autism as early as a baby's first birthday....More

Facebook saved his life says Ottawa man as he meets bone marrow donor

TORONTO - When Mike Hogman clicked a Facebook link back in 2009, the British Columbia native never imagined that two years later he would be standing in a Toronto airport meeting a man whose life he had saved....More

Canada's Medical Hall of Fame inducting 6 new 'heroes' to its ranks

LONDON, Ont. - A pioneer in nerve regeneration and a physician known as Quebec's Father of Cardiology are among six doctors being inducted Thursday into Canada's Medical Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame, located in London, Ont....More

Better Batter brand baking mixes recalled due to unlisted milk

TORONTO - The Canada Food Inspection Agency has announced a recall of certain Better Batter brand baking mix because it may contain milk that is not declared on the packaging....More

B.C. funds half of $27 million cost of second Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver

VANCOUVER - The B.C. government will provide half the $27 million needed to build a second Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver, to be located at BC Children's Hospital. Premier Christy Clark says the province is contributing $13....More

Avastin proves as good as pricier Lucentis for eye disease wet macular degeneration

A much cheaper drug has proved just as good as a $2,000 monthly shot to treat a common eye disorder that can lead to blindness, a long-awaited study has found....More

Nova Scotia nurses in capital region vote to strike

HALIFAX - Nurses working for Nova Scotia's largest health authority have voted 94 per cent in favour of going on strike. The nurses, represented by the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, work for the Capital District Health Authority....More

N.S. strategy sets targets to reduce smoking, but no new money for programs

HALIFAX - A new five-year tobacco control strategy aims to reduce smoking rates among young people in Nova Scotia....More

Imported egg custard contains undeclared shrimp, CFIA warns

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning Canadians with allergies that an egg custard sold in packaging with Japanese writing contains undeclared shrimp. The egg custard, imported from Japan by Nishimoto Trading Co. Ltd....More

DNA fingerprinting confirms a suspect: Armadillos are likely spreading leprosy in the South

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - With some genetic sleuthing, scientists have fingered a likely culprit in the spread of leprosy in the southern United States: the nine-banded armadillo....More

DNA fingerprinting confirms a suspect: Armadillos are likely spreading leprosy in southern US

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - With some genetic sleuthing, scientists have fingered a likely culprit in the spread of leprosy in the southern United States: the nine-banded armadillo....More

Brewers' Erick Almonte becomes 1st major leaguer on new 7-day DL for concussions

MILWAUKEE - Brewers utility man Erick Almonte went home to sleep under supervision after becoming the first major leaguer placed on the new seven-day disabled list for concussions....More

Simple checklist a possible way to screen 1-year-olds for risk of autism: study

WASHINGTON - A simple checklist that parents fill out in the waiting room may help doctors someday screen for warning signs of autism as early as a baby's first birthday....More

Better Batter brand baking mixes recalled due to unlisted milk

TORONTO - The Canada Food Inspection Agency has announced a recall of certain Better Batter brand baking mix because it may contain milk that is not declared on the packaging....More

Higher demand for human donor milk at banks for preemies, other babies in need

ATHENS, Ohio - With her baby fast asleep in the stroller, Valerie Githinji made her way up to the nurses' station in O'Bleness Memorial Hospital's maternity ward. She came bearing gifts....More

Health Canada approves HPV vaccine for women up to age 45

Health Canada has approved the use of the human papilloma virus vaccine for women aged 27 to 45 to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases, the company that makes the drug said Tuesday....More

Get outside and away from screens after school, physical activity report urges

TORONTO - Many Canadian kids plop themselves in front of a TV or computer screen after school, a trend that needs reversing to improve physical activity levels and overall health, a new report says....More

Flame retardants at high levels in pet dogs: study

Coursing through the veins of pet dogs are flame retardants at levels five to 10 times as high as those found in humans -- but lower than the levels found in the blood of pet cats, a new study has found....More

Contract talks resume between Saskatchewan health-care workers and employer

REGINA - Contract talks have resumed between the union representing thousands of health-care workers in Saskatchewan and their employer....More

Children's Hospital trying to track down patients who had special chest surgery

VANCOUVER - B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver is trying to track down patients who had a special kind of chest surgery between the early 1980's and early 2009....More

Canada's kids average more than 40 hours a week in front of a screen: Report

When they get out of school, kids are heading from their desks to the couch, according to a new report from Active Healthy Kids Canada....More

Woman who helped mom die in Europe sues to legalize assisted dying in Canada

VANCOUVER - The daughter of a terminally ill British Columbia woman who escorted her mother to Switzerland to die with the help of a doctor is reopening the assisted suicide debate in this country. Lee Carter filed a suit in B.C....More

Twist of fate: Leg-reversal surgery lets young bone cancer patient resume sports

Dugan Smith loves playing sports — baseball, basketball, football, you name it. So when the 13-year-old lost part of one leg to bone cancer, he was faced with the prospect of being sidelined as a spectator for the rest of his life....More

Supreme Court rejects call to put review of health care law on fast track

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court rejected a call Monday from Virginia's attorney general to depart from its usual practice and put review of the health care law on a fast track....More

New push to spur drugs for rare diseases, even as moms toil to fill that void

WASHINGTON - Every other week, seven-year-old twins Addison and Cassidy Hempel have an experimental medicine injected into their spines in hopes of battling a rare, fatal disease. And it's their mom who made that possible....More

Higher demand for human donor milk at banks for preemies, other babies in need

ATHENS, Ohio - With her baby fast asleep in the stroller, Valerie Githinji made her way up to the nurses' station in O'Bleness Memorial Hospital's maternity ward. She came bearing gifts....More

Harper says he won't change his tune on abortion amid fears from women's groups

TORONTO - Stephen Harper will be under "tremendous pressure" from his caucus to pass abortion restrictions if he wins a majority government, several women's health groups said Monday....More

Father says Windsor, Ont., baby doing well at home after tracheotomy in U.S.

WINDSOR, Ont. - The father of 15-month-old baby Joseph Maraachli (muh-RAHSH'-lee) says he is doing well after returning to Windsor, Ont., last week from a St. Louis hospital. Joseph had a tracheotomy at the U.S. hospital after doctors in London, Ont....More

Early-onset sepsis associated with streptococci and E. coli

A new study published online Monday has found that early-onset sepsis risks for newborns increases as the baby's gestational age and birth weight decrease....More

Get outside and away from screens after school, physical activity report urges

TORONTO - Many Canadian kids plop themselves in front of a TV or computer screen after school, a trend that needs reversing to improve physical activity levels and overall health, a new report says....More

Patients may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis C

Jeff Cummings QMI Agency     EDMONTON â€" Health officials are scrambling to contact more than 200 patients who may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis C, though officials say the chance of getting the illness is small....More

Ontario police given power to seize illegal cigarettes without approval

TORONTO - Ontario's opposition parties weren't impressed Thursday after the Liberal government said it would give police the power to seize illegal cigarettes when they see them....More

Month after procedure in St. Louis, Baby Joseph returns home to Canada

ST. LOUIS - A terminally ill Canadian baby who received treatment in the U.S. aimed at extending his life after doctors in Ontario wouldn't treat him, is back home. Joseph Maraachli left Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo....More

Health officials predict there may be smoking bans in every US state by 2020

ATLANTA - By 2020, every U.S. state may have bans on smoking in restaurants, bars and the workplace, federal health officials predicted Thursday, based on the current pace of adopting anti-smoking laws....More

Harper scrambles to put out new fires over abortion, ethics

OTTAWA - As Canadians prepared to gather for the holiest weekends in the Christian calendar, Canada's election campaign is serving up an unsavoury stew of scandal and muck to go along with the traditional ham....More

Pot helps patients with fibromyalgia: Study

Fibromyalgia sufferers reported fewer headaches and improved sleep after using pot for an average of two hours a day, a new study shows. Spanish researchers followed 28 patients who were cannabis users, and 28 non-users....More

CFIA issues warning about Indian sweets, may contain undeclared sulphites

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Quality Natural Foods Limited are warning people with allergies to sulphites not to consume Haldiram’s Nagpur brand Petha Cubes Indian Sweets....More

Searching for combinations that work on resistant bacteria: add antidiarrhea drug?

TORONTO - A decades-old antibiotic appears to work better when combined with a common antidiarrheal drug to combat a persistent bug that often afflicts people with cystic fibrosis, a new study indicates....More

Ontario police given power to seize illegal cigarettes without approval

TORONTO - Ontario's opposition parties weren't impressed Thursday after the Liberal government said it would give police the power to seize illegal cigarettes when they see them....More

Month after procedure in St. Louis, Baby Joseph returns home to Canada

ST. LOUIS - A terminally ill Canadian baby who received treatment in the U.S. aimed at extending his life after doctors in Ontario wouldn't treat him, is back home. Joseph Maraachli left Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo....More

Health officials predict there may be smoking bans in every US state by 2020

ATLANTA - By 2020, every U.S. state may have bans on smoking in restaurants, bars and the workplace, federal health officials predicted Thursday, based on the current pace of adopting anti-smoking laws....More

Harper scrambles to put out new fires over abortion, ethics

OTTAWA - As Canadians prepared to gather for the holiest weekends in the Christian calendar, Canada's election campaign is serving up an unsavoury stew of scandal and muck to go along with the traditional ham....More

Harper scrambles to put out new fires over abortion, ethics

OTTAWA - Stephen Harper is scrambling to defuse a cluster bomb of accusations over ethical lapses and secret agendas threatening to disrupt the Conservatives' no-drama campaign....More

Conservatives scramble to head off brewing controversy over abortion

OTTAWA - Stephen Harper says the Conservative government will never reopen the contentious debate about abortion rights in Canada as long as he's prime minister....More

Abortion issue flares for Harper campaign as Sask MP goes off message

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The prime minister's campaign plane had safely reached The Rock in the dead of night when a dreaded horse burst out of the barn....More

CFIA issues warning about Indian sweets, may contain undeclared sulphites

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Quality Natural Foods Limited are warning people with allergies to sulphites not to consume Haldiram’s Nagpur brand Petha Cubes Indian Sweets....More

1 in 25 experiences complication when implanted defibrillator is replaced: study

TORONTO - About one in 25 patients who has surgery to replace the battery in an under-the-skin chest device that shocks the heart experiences a complication within 45 days, a new study suggests....More

Prognosis improves over time for most cancer patients: StatsCan study

TORONTO - The prognosis gets better for people diagnosed with cancer — sometimes substantially — after they've survived a year or more, says a new Statistics Canada report that estimates five-year survival ratios for the first time....More

Nuclear power will provide energy baseload, but more renewable needed: Ignatieff

SAINT JOHN, N.B. - Michael Ignatieff says he supports nuclear power, but a Liberal government would do more to harness renewable energy, including New Brunswick tides. Speaking in Saint John, N.B....More

Ignatieff calls out Harper on health care in 'open letter' to prime minister

SAINT JOHN, N.B. - Michael Ignatieff is calling out Stephen Harper on what he calls the prime minister's "deep hostility" to Canada's health-care system....More

Health minister orders probe into recent prescription drug deaths

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's health minister says recent deaths related to prescription drugs in the Annapolis Valley will be examined....More

Fed up with smoking bans, cigar enthusiasts seeking right to smoke in public

SPOKANE, Wash. - As quests for freedom go, it's not exactly the fight against apartheid in South Africa. But cigar smokers around the United States are fed up with smoking bans that prevent them from enjoying stogies in cigar bars with friends....More

Coalition talk and a white elephant loom over Ignatieff

SAINT JOHN, N.B. - A literal white elephant loomed over Michael Ignatieff Wednesday as he threw his support behind nuclear power, but coalition talk loomed even larger, threatening to dwarf the Liberal leader's message....More

Brothers double-doctored Oxycontin prescriptions and got 67,000 pills

CALGARY - Two brothers are accused of getting and filling more than 85 prescriptions of highly addictive Oxycontin in both Alberta and British Columbia, then selling the pills on the street for a profit....More

Health Canada evaluates safety of benzocaine products, link to rare blood condition

TORONTO - Health Canada says it is continuing to evaluate the safety of benzocaine products in light of reports of adverse reactions linked to the pain reliever....More

Guidelines define Alzheimer's, pre-dementia; hopes for earlier diagnosis and care

The first new U.S. guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in nearly 30 years establish earlier stages of the mind-robbing disease, paving the way for spotting and possibly treating these conditions much sooner than they are now....More

Guide and cookbook can help those suffering from debilitating bowel disease

Sufferers of debilitating irritable bowel syndrome now have a guide to help them manage their symptoms. An estimated 15 to 20 per cent of the population is affected by IBS, says Dr....More

Fed. regulators seek to stop fake news sites luring consumers to buy acai berry diet products

CHICAGO - Consumers searching for unbiased journalism on the acai berry diet clicked their way into a scam, according to federal regulators who have filed lawsuits in six states in an attempt to shut down the alleged Internet tricksters....More

Election year spending expected in a N.L. budget turned black with oil profits

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - It's budget day in Newfoundland and Labrador, where surging oil prices and mineral shipments have put the books well into the black....More

California woman shows off new hand transplanted in rare procedure at UCLA Medical Center

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - For the first time in five years, Emily Fennell has two hands. The 26-year-old single mother, who lost her right hand in a car accident, showed off her newly donated hand Tuesday while flanked by a team of transplant doctors....More

Alberta premier says rejection of AMA's bid for health inquiry not disrespectful

EDMONTON - Alberta's premier says he's not dismissing or showing disrespect to the Alberta Medical Association over allegations of doctor intimidation. Ed Stelmach says physicians' concerns will be addressed by the Health Quality Council....More

1 in 25 experiences complication when implanted defibrillator is replaced: study

TORONTO - About one in 25 patients who has surgery to replace the battery in an under-the-skin chest device that shocks the heart experiences a complication within 45 days, a new study suggests....More

Michael Douglas's cancer diagnosed in Canada, now he's helping Montreal hospital

MONTREAL - Michael Douglas's battle with throat cancer began in Canada — and now the Oscar-winning actor is giving back to the Montreal hospital that detected a disease others had missed....More

Lockdowns, mock DUI funerals: prom security tight yet drinking continues

Wailing friends collapse at the burnished coffin of a teen as pallbearers slowly wheel it away. Two crashed cars sit nearby, bearing witness in pools of blood to the drunken driving accident that took his life. The scene isn't real....More

Harper and Ignatieff mudslinging masks lack of vision in future of health care

OTTAWA - The claim: The Liberals say Stephen Harper has an agenda to gut health care. The Conservatives say Liberals could repeat former finance minister Paul Martin's cuts to health. The quote: "He's open to American-style private for-profit health care....More

Company recalls ginseng capsules after Health Canada finds microbial contamination

TORONTO - Health Canada says it has identified microbial contamination in samples of a product sold by the company Mary Ginseng House....More

Alberta's health minister says new era of openness means no doctor intimidation

EDMONTON - Alberta's health minister, under renewed attack Monday to address allegations of doctor intimidation, says if the intimidation took place, it doesn't anymore....More

Guidelines define Alzheimer's, pre-dementia; hopes for earlier diagnosis and care

The first new U.S. guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in nearly 30 years establish earlier stages of the mind-robbing disease, paving the way for spotting and possibly treating these conditions much sooner than they are now....More

Election year spending expected in a N.L. budget turned black with oil profits

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - It's budget day in Newfoundland and Labrador, where surging oil prices and mineral shipments have put the books well into the black....More

California woman to show off new hand transplanted in rare procedure at UCLA Medical Center

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - A 26-year-old mother who lost her right hand in a traffic accident several years ago is reuniting with her doctors to show off her new donated hand....More

Calgary to move ahead with plan to eliminate fluoride from drinking water

CALGARY - Calgary's attempt to get fluoride out of its drinking water has gotten a boost from Alberta Environment....More

Alberta Medical Association wants public inquiry into intimidation of doctors

EDMONTON - The Alberta Medical Association asked the province Friday to call a public inquiry into alleged intimidation of doctors, but the idea was again rejected by the health minister....More

2 confirmed cases of measles in Saskatchewan in unvaccinated young children

REGINA - Health officials in Saskatchewan say there are two confirmed cases of highly contagious red measles in the Regina-Qu'Appelle region. Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer Dr....More

Dozing air traffic controllers focus attention on health risks from working odd shifts

WASHINGTON - Reports of sleeping air traffic controllers highlight a long-known and often ignored hazard: Workers on night shifts can have trouble concentrating and even staying awake....More

Ignatieff: Liberal government would gather first ministers on health care

VANCOUVER - Michael Ignatieff is upping the ante on health care, saying a Liberal government would summon Canada's premiers and territorial leaders for a health-care summit meeting within 60 days of taking office....More

What leads gay, straight teens to attempt suicide? Similar social influences: study

CHICAGO - Suicide attempts by gay teens — and even straight kids — are more common in politically conservative areas where schools don't have programs supporting gay rights, a study involving nearly 32,000 high school students found....More

Vancouver safe injection clinic reduces fatal drug overdoses: study

VANCOUVER - A new study concludes that Vancouver's supervised injecting facility is saving lives....More

Researchers stop AIDS prevention study in African women; no benefit seen from daily pills

Researchers are stopping a study testing a daily pill to prevent infection with the AIDS virus in thousands of African women. Partial results show that women taking Truvada, made by Gilead Sciences Inc....More

Liberal leader adopts aggressive posture in hopes of axing Tory government

GATINEAU, Qc - If his tool of choice is any indication, Michael Ignatieff plans to spend the latter half of the election campaign speaking softly to Canadians while carrying a big — and sharp — stick....More

Japanese experts: Store blood cells from nuclear plant workers to treat radiation injury later

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Workers at Japan's troubled nuclear plant should store blood cells now in case they need them later as treatment for radiation overdose, some Japanese experts suggest....More

Health Promotion minister warns Charlie Sheen not to smoke on Toronto stage

TORONTO - Television star Charlie Sheen is being warned not to smoke while on stage at Toronto's Massey Hall....More

Dr. Chris Eagle appointed president, CEO, of Alberta Health Services

GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. - Dr. Chris Eagle has been officially appointed to the job of president and CEO of Alberta Health Services for the next five years. Eagle kicked off his new tenure by announcing $190 million in additional health spending....More

Despite promises of hope over fear, Liberals adopt aggressive campaign posture

GATINEAU, Qc - Michael Ignatieff insists he'll take the high road as he heads into the second half of the election campaign, but there are signs the Liberal game plan is taking a more aggressive turn....More

Brain bypass surgery helps restore lost brain tissue in patients, study finds

TORONTO - Surgical treatment aimed at preventing the onset of strokes in high-risk patients has led to an unexpected outcome: helping to restore lost brain tissue, according to new Canadian research....More

B.C. court sets aside $4-million award, orders retrial in malpractice case

VANCOUVER - The B.C. Court of Appeal has set aside a multi-million-dollar damage award in a medical malpractice suit and ordered a new trial after accusing the trial judge of plagiarism in his decision. B.C....More

Additional research needed on neck vein blockage theory, MS Society says

TORONTO - An Italian doctor's hypothesis that narrowed neck veins are a possible cause of multiple sclerosis is being questioned in light of published study results involving close to 500 people....More

Energy Minister says radiation levels in Ontario higher since Japanese disaster

TORONTO - Higher-than-normal radiation levels have been detected in Ontario since last month's earthquake and tsunami created huge problems at some of Japan's nuclear reactors....More

Don't kiss a frog: Touching can be unhealthy for both you and the frog

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - In the world of make-believe, kissing a frog could turn him into a prince. In real life, touching them can kill the creatures and cause serious problems for humans too....More

Winnipeg teen dies while waiting for heart transplant for two years

WINNIPEG - A Winnipeg teen who was waiting for a heart transplant has died at a hospital in Montreal. Jessica Bondar, 19, died early Wednesday morning, said her mother, Charlotte Roy....More

Studies question idea that narrowed neck veins are primary cause of MS

Several new studies are pointing against narrowed neck veins as being the primary culprit in causing multiple sclerosis. The condition called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, became the subject of numerous studies after Dr....More

Nets broadcaster opens up about his life secret - living with muscular dystrophy

NEWARK, N.J. - New Jersey Nets radio voice Chris Carrino has been living with a secret for almost two decades....More

Half of U.S. adults take vitamins, dietary supplements; use of calcium up: CDC

ATLANTA - About half of U.S. adults take vitamins and other dietary supplements — a level that's been holding steady for much of the past decade, new government figures show. But the data also show a booming number of older women are taking calcium....More

Doctor says he didn't know child killer's ex-wife lives close to facility

VANCOUVER - A man who killed his three kids may have less of a chance to sip coffee outside a psychiatric hospital now that new information has come to light. Allan Schoenborn's request for temporary escorted leaves went before the B.C....More

2 million babies stillborn every year; better care could save about half

LONDON - More than two million babies are stillborn every year worldwide and about half could be saved if their mothers had better medical care, according to researchers' estimates....More

Some hair smoothing products contain formaldehyde above limits: Health Canada

TORONTO - Health Canada says it has discovered almost a dozen more hair smoothing products that contain formaldehyde above the accepted limits. The products are being used at salons, but aren't sold directly to the public....More

Ontario MMA medical checks praised after MRI reveals brain hemorrhage

TORONTO - The demands of the Ontario Athletics Commission have drawn a few grumbles already from mixed martial arts fighters....More

Nova Scotia to double funding for early therapy program for autistic children

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia will provide universal access to one-on-one therapy for autistic pre-schoolers by 2013, ending a lottery system that some parents had condemned as immoral....More

New radio frequency system will allow N.S. to track those who wander off

HALIFAX - The death of a young autistic boy in the woods of Nova Scotia has led the province to introduce a new way for rescue teams to track people who wander....More

IAAF adopts eligibility rules for female athletes with high male hormone levels

LONDON - Female athletes with excessive levels of male hormones will require medical clearance to compete in women's events under new rules adopted Tuesday by track and field's governing body....More

Enhanced foods: farmers feed animals a diet rich in flaxseed, tuna oil

VANCOUVER - The black-and-white splotched Holstein shuffles her way across the barn and sinks her voluminous udder onto the outstretched, metallic arms of the waiting robot: Vicki knows she's ready to give milk. At the sprawling Abbotsford, B.C....More

Energy Minister says radiation levels in Ontario higher since Japanese disaster

TORONTO - Higher-than-normal radiation levels have been detected in Ontario since last month's earthquake and tsunami created huge problems at some of Japan's nuclear reactors....More

Don't kiss a frog: Touching can be unhealthy for both you and the frog

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - In the world of make-believe, kissing a frog could turn him into a prince. In real life, touching them can kill the creatures and cause serious problems for humans too....More

Most bug bites an itchy nuisance but watch out for ticks, mosquitoes, allergies

WASHINGTON - It's that time of year when the bugs emerge to bug us. Some can pose real threats — Lyme disease from tiny ticks, West Nile virus from mosquitoes, or life-threatening allergic reactions to bee stings....More

Jamaica health officials say rampant skin bleaching in slums becoming pathology

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Mikeisha Simpson covers her body in greasy white cream and bundles up in a track suit to avoid the fierce sun of her native Jamaica, but she's not worried about skin cancer....More

Gordon Pinsent suffers from pain that feels like "being bitten by a tiger"

TORONTO - Gordon Pinsent says he sometimes has to take time off work because of pain that feels like he's "being bitten by a tiger," but the veteran Canadian actor isn't letting the debilitating condition affect his positive outlook on life....More

Experts want to shine light on cancer's effects on men's sexuality

HALIFAX - When Richard Wassersug was diagnosed with prostate cancer more than a decade ago, he had little idea how profoundly it would change his life....More

Doctors choose riskier treatment for themselves than for their patients: study

CHICAGO - Physicians may choose riskier treatment for themselves than they'd recommend for their patients, according to a study that highlights a need for candid discussions about patients' preferences....More

Do kids make parents' less fit? Childless adults do better than those with young kids

CHICAGO - Could kids be to blame for new parents' bad health habits? A study found that mothers of young children were heavier and ate more calories, sugary drinks and fatty foods than childless women....More

Alberta doctors press province to hold public inquiry into health problems

EDMONTON - Physicians are trying to put more pressure on the Alberta government to hold a public inquiry into health care problems that include the alleged intimidation of doctors and staff who have concerns. Dr....More

IAAF adopts eligibility rules for female athletes with high male hormone levels

LONDON - Female athletes with excessive levels of male hormones will require medical clearance to compete in women's events under new rules adopted Tuesday by track and field's governing body....More

Ralph Klein's ex-aide says former Alberta premier has dementia, is losing speech

CALGARY - One of Canada's most outspoken and quotable political figures has developed a form of dementia that is robbing him of his words. Ralph Klein was Alberta premier for 14 years before leaving politics in 2006. Sometimes he was dazzling....More

Ontario gives nurse practitioners power to admit, discharge hospital patients

TORONTO - Expanding powers for nurses inside Ontario hospitals will save taxpayers money and get patients home sooner, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Friday....More

One-time aide to Ralph Klein confirms former Alberta premier has dementia

CALGARY - A one-time aide to Ralph Klein says the colourful and often outspoken former premier of Alberta has dementia. Rod Love says Klein's wife had grown concerned that her husband's behaviour couldn't be blamed on the emphysema he had been diagnosed with....More

Supreme court orders B.C. government to provide inmate with new teeth

VANCOUVER - A British Columbia judge has ordered the provincial government to pay the cost of new dentures for a 52-year-old former inmate....More

More walnuts recalled in E.coli investigation, this time in Vancouver

OTTAWA - There has been a widening of a walnut recall as the investigation into a deadly E.coli outbreak continues....More

U.S. pot insurance has Canadian growers green with envy

VANCOUVER - The growing medicinal marijuana business in the United States despite the drug's illegal status has many insurance firms seeing green — as in money....More

Federal HIV project Harper signed with Bill Gates fizzled soon after: report

OTTAWA - A $139-million project to fight HIV-AIDS, launched by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a glitzy photo-op with Microsoft's Bill Gates, began to founder within months, says an internal report....More

Do kids make parents' less fit? Childless adults do better than those with young kids

CHICAGO - Could kids be to blame for new parents' bad health habits? A study found that mothers of young children were heavier and ate more calories, sugary drinks and fatty foods than childless women....More

N.L. cancer care improved since botched breast cancer tests; minister

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The government of Newfoundland and Labrador says it has implemented almost all of the recommendations made by an inquiry triggered by faulty breast cancer tests....More

Manitoba studying if medical school in Brandon feasible

BRANDON, Man. - The Manitoba government is spending $350,000 to determine how enhancing medical education in Brandon can help to increase the number of doctors across the province....More

Genetically modified fungus could fight malaria, lab experiments indicate

LONDON - In a cramped London laboratory filled with test tubes, bacteria and mosquitoes, scientists are trying to engineer a new weapon in the battle against malaria: a mutant fungus....More

Conservatives set to release platform, focus on jobs, seniors, crime, north

HAMILTON - Two weeks after the Conservative government fell on a vote of non-confidence, the party will try again to win the faith of Canadians with the formal release of their campaign platform on Friday....More

Canada's vow to eradicate polio in Afghanistan falls victim to lack of security

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Canada's fight to eradicate polio from Afghanistan seemed within reach when it was announced three years ago....More

B.C. father who killed three children granted escorted leave from psych hospital

VANCOUVER - Three years to the day after his three children were found slain in their family home, Allan Schoenborn was granted supervised leave from the psychiatric hospital where he has been confined since he was found not criminally responsible in their deaths....More

Alcohol causes substantial number of cancer cases in European men, women: study

LONDON - Drinking too much alcohol might account for as much as 10 per cent of cancer cases in men and three per cent in women in Europe, according to results of a new study published Thursday....More

US govt seeks ways to reduce health disparities but will need work beyond doctors' offices

WASHINGTON - From cradle to grave, minority populations in the United States tend to suffer poorer health and get poorer health care than white Americans. In a first-of-its-kind report, the government is recommending steps to reduce those disparities....More

Hormone-containing vaginal gel reduces preterm birth in some at-risk women: study

WASHINGTON - A simple treatment — a hormone-containing vaginal gel — significantly reduces premature births among pregnant women who are at high risk because of a problem with the cervix, U.S. government researchers reported Wednesday....More

Canadians, political parties should be talking about the environment: Romanow

TORONTO - Canadians need to counter some serious environmental threats to the country and planet or there will be consequences for their well-being, says the chair of the advisory board of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing....More

Canada's health-care system needs major surgery, Dodge warns

OTTAWA - A former Bank of Canada governor has lobbed a medicare grenade into the federal election campaign, concluding that Canada's cherished universal health-care system is financially unsustainable without major — and unappealing — changes....More

Brain imaging shows how meditation can reduce pain sensations and intensity

TORONTO - Meditation can significantly reduce the intensity and perception of pain — and the effects aren't just in a person's mind, researchers have found....More

Automatic external defibrillators needed in public places, say paramedics

OTTAWA - Ottawa paramedics are calling for automatic external defibrillators to be made available at public places after two incidents involving hockey players Tuesday night....More

Assi brand Wheat Flour Mix recalled due to undeclared milk, peanuts

OTTAWA - People with milk or peanut allergies are being warned not to consume various Assi brand Wheat Flour Mix products. The products imported from Korea contain milk and peanuts that aren't declared properly on the label....More

Canada's vow to eradicate polio in Afghanistan falls victim to lack of security

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Canada's fight to eradicate polio from Afghanistan seemed within reach when it was announced three years ago....More

B.C. father who killed three children granted escorted leave from psych hospital

VANCOUVER - Three years to the day after his three children were found slain in their family home, Allan Schoenborn was granted supervised leave from the psychiatric hospital where he has been confined since he was found not criminally responsible in their deaths....More

Rick Hansen asks Canadians to take part in 25th anniversary 'Motion' relay

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - The "Man In Motion" is looking for thousands of Canadians to help him recreate his groundbreaking trek across the country....More

McGuinty won't say why Hamilton hospital paid $762k to former deputy minister

TORONTO - The opposition turned up the heat on Ontario's Liberal government Tuesday over a former deputy health minister's $762,000 salary that was buried in a Hamilton hospital's budget....More

Manitoba spending $5M for clinical trials of controversial MS liberation therapy

WINNIPEG - Clinical trials of so-called liberation therapy for people with multiple sclerosis got a $5-million boost Tuesday from Manitoba which has decided to partner with its neighbour to the west....More

Man who attacked bishop requests escorted visits from psychiatric hospital

PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. - A British Columbia man who viciously attacked a bishop in a Kamloops church told the board that will decide how much freedom to give him from his psychiatric hospital that he feels great remorse. At his first B.C....More

Cape Breton hospitals report more confirmed cases of C. difficile, another death

SYDNEY, N.S. - The Cape Breton Regional Health Authority says the death of a palliative care patient is related to the outbreak of C. difficile at the district's health facilities....More

Alberta government says hospital emergency room wait times improving

EDMONTON - The Alberta government says its prescription for reducing hospital emergency room wait times is working....More

2 probiotic products pulled from market, mislabelled as vegan or dairy-free

OTTAWA - Health Canada is updating consumers about two more probiotic natural health products that are labelled as vegan or dairy-free but may contain trace amounts of milk from ingredients used in the production process....More

Assi brand Wheat Flour Mix recalled due to undeclared milk, peanuts

OTTAWA - People with milk or peanut allergies are being warned not to consume various Assi brand Wheat Flour Mix products. The products imported from Korea contain milk and peanuts that aren't declared properly on the label....More

New government-funded study suggests stroke care improving in Ontario

TORONTO - A new government-funded study suggests the level of care provided to stroke patients in Ontario has increased significantly....More

Kids to be screened in Manitoba schools for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba and federal governments are about to launch a pilot project to screen kids for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in schools....More

Health Minister can't explain why deputy got $762,000 one year after leaving

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government was at a loss Monday to explain why a former deputy minister of health was paid $762,000 in 2010 when he left government the year before....More

Health Canada recalls motorized toy truck due to choking hazard in kids

OTTAWA - Health Canada is recalling a motorized toy truck because parts can detach and pose a choking hazard to young children. The product, Troy the Activity Truck, is also being jointly recalled by its distributor, Infantino LLC of San Diego, Calif....More

Case of tuberculosis at Toronto Catholic school, letter goes home to parents

TORONTO - Public health officials in Toronto say parents shouldn't panic after someone at an elementary school was diagnosed with an active case of tuberculosis. Dr. Elizabeth Rea, associate medical officer of health for the city, says the person at St....More

Amid debate over heart checks for young athletes, study tracks rare NCAA deaths

WASHINGTON - The death of a Michigan teenage basketball player has renewed questions about what kind of heart checkup young athletes need to make the team, and a new study may influence that debate....More

Alternate route through arm for artery-opening angioplasty is safe: study

NEW ORLEANS - Doctors may have a better way to do heart diagnostic tests and procedures to open clogged heart arteries. A new study finds fewer complications when these are done through an artery in an arm instead of one in a leg....More

Surge in CT scans for kids during ER treatment raises concern about radiation

CHICAGO - Soaring numbers of kids are getting CT scans in emergency rooms in the United States, a study found, raising concerns some may be exposed to adult-sized radiation doses and potential risks for cancer down the road....More

B.C. appoints child welfare director on watchdog's recommendation

VICTORIA - British Columbia's children's watchdog welcomed the government's appointment Thursday of a new director for child welfare....More

Manitoba aboriginal leaders join call for inquiry into Alzheimer's death

WINNIPEG - The case of two seniors with Alzheimer's disease and a fatal encounter at a personal care home continues to draw calls for action — this time from Manitoba aboriginal leaders....More

Smoking raises breast cancer risk in normal, overweight women, but not obese ones, study finds

Smoking raises the risk of breast cancer for healthy-weight and overweight women but not for those who are obese, new research suggests....More

Nighttime leg twitches may be a sign of heart trouble, study suggests

NEW ORLEANS - The nighttime twitching of restless legs syndrome may be more than an annoyance: New research suggests that in some people, it could be a sign of hidden heart problems....More

Big study boosts hope for fixing aortic valves through arteries instead of open-heart surgery

NEW ORLEANS - Cardiologists are reporting a major advance: A long-awaited study suggests that many people with a bad aortic valve, the heart's main gate, can avoid open-heart surgery and have a new one placed through a tube in an artery instead....More

5 new Alzheimer's-related genes identified, give researchers fresh direction

TORONTO - Two international research groups have identified a total of five new genes related to late-onset Alzheimer's disease and opened up new areas of research into what causes the progressive brain-destroying condition....More

Shelled walnut products recalled over fears of E.coli contamination

OTTAWA - The public is being warned not to eat certain bulk and prepackaged raw shelled walnut products because they may be contaminated with E.coli bacteria. The recall by Quebec-based Amira Enterprises Inc....More

New government-funded study suggests stroke care improving in Ontario

TORONTO - A new government-funded study suggests the level of care provided to stroke patients in Ontario has increased significantly....More

Drugs not working? Try this sugar pill instead. German doctors advised to use more placebos

LONDON - For German patients plagued with problems like chronic pain and mild depression, doctors may soon be trying something a little different: a placebo....More

Drugs not working? German doctors are advised to use more placebos

LONDON - For German patients plagued with problems like chronic pain and mild depression, doctors may soon be trying something a little different: a placebo....More

Canada's new governor general earned over $1 million as university vice-chancellor

TORONTO - Canada's new governor general was the second highest paid public sector worker in Ontario last year, one of only two people paid over $1 million....More

Canada's new governor general earned over $1 million as university vice-chancellor

TORONTO - Governor General David Johnston was the second highest paid public sector worker in Ontario last year, one of only two people paid more than $1 million by provincial taxpayers....More

Canada's new governor general earned over $1 million as university vice-chancellor

TORONTO - Governor General David Johnston was the second highest paid public sector worker in Ontario last year, and one of only two people paid over $1 million by provincial taxpayers....More

Canada's new governor general earned over $1 million as university vice-chancellor

TORONTO - Governor General David Johnston was the second highest paid public sector worker in Ontario last year, one of only two people paid more than $1 million by provincial taxpayers....More

Canada's new governor general earned over $1 million as university vice-chancellor

TORONTO - Governor General David Johnston was the second highest paid public sector worker in Ontario last year, one of only two people paid more than $1 million by provincial taxpayers....More

B.C. appoints child welfare director on watchdog's recommendation

VICTORIA - British Columbia's children's watchdog welcomed the government's appointment Thursday of a new director for child welfare....More