Patient demands, frustration with health system can lead to doctor burnout

TORONTO - Every two weeks for most of the year, Dr. Miriam Salamon meets with a group of other Ottawa family physicians to talk about their emotional experiences related to their practices — a difficult patient, perhaps, or a thorny diagnosis....More

Panel reveals gruesome details of 1940s medical experiment by US doctors in Guatemala

ATLANTA - A presidential panel on Monday disclosed shocking new details of U.S. medical experiments done in Guatemala in the 1940s, including a decision to re-infect a dying woman in a syphilis study....More

New recommendations to prevent blood clots during C-sections - with leg-compressing boots

WASHINGTON - New advice for pregnant women: If you are getting a C-section, special inflating boots strapped on your legs may lower the risk of a blood clot....More

Health Canada warns that donor semen from questionable sources might not be safe

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning that donor semen for conception should be obtained through reliable sources. Otherwise, there could be safety issues....More

Fears that 'grey tsunami' will financially swamp health system overblown: studies

VANCOUVER - Fears that Canada's aging population could lead to soaring health-care costs may be greatly exaggerated, say researchers, who suggest that the predicted "grey tsunami" may turn out to be more like a "grey glacier....More

Ottawa spending $21M to research health equity, but no study on aboriginal needs

WINNIPEG - Ottawa is spending more than $21 million over five years on research to help address gaps in health equity across Canada and around the world, but aboriginal Canadians don't seem to be on the list....More

Leukemia drug Sprycel linked to potentially fatal side-effect: Health Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning patients and health-care professionals about a potentially fatal side-effect related to the drug Sprycel taken by patients with certain forms of leukemia....More

Health minister says patients first at new hospital in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

MOOSE JAW, Sask. - Saskatchewan's health minister is promising better and safer health services at a new regional hospital in Moose Jaw. Don McMorrris announced the new hospital and new attitude on Tuesday....More

Taiwanese hospital mistakenly transplants HIV-infected organs into 5 patients

TAIPEI, Taiwan - One of Taiwan's best regarded hospitals transplanted organs from an HIV carrier into five patients, a hospital official said Monday, in what appears to be one of the most egregious examples of medical negligence in the island's modern history....More

Saskatchewan Cancer Agency workers end ban on voluntary overtime

REGINA - Saskatchewan cancer agency workers have lifted a ban on working voluntary overtime. The Saskatchewan Government and General Employee's Union, which represents the workers, says the decision was made as a sign of good faith in contract talks....More

Recommendation to prevent blood clots during C-sections: leg-compressing boots

WASHINGTON - New advice for pregnant women: If you're getting a C-section, special inflating boots strapped on your legs may lower the risk of a blood clot....More

Patient demands, frustration with health system can lead to doctor burnout

TORONTO - Every two weeks for most of the year, Dr. Miriam Salamon meets with a group of other Ottawa family physicians to talk about their emotional experiences related to their practices — a difficult patient, perhaps, or a thorny diagnosis....More

Panel reveals gruesome details of 1940s medical experiment by US doctors in Guatemala

ATLANTA - A presidential panel on Monday disclosed shocking new details of U.S. medical experiments done in Guatemala in the 1940s, including a decision to re-infect a dying woman in a syphilis study....More

New recommendations to prevent blood clots during C-sections - with leg-compressing boots

WASHINGTON - New advice for pregnant women: If you are getting a C-section, special inflating boots strapped on your legs may lower the risk of a blood clot....More

Health Canada warns that donor semen from questionable sources might not be safe

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning that donor semen for conception should be obtained through reliable sources. Otherwise, there could be safety issues....More

Fears that 'grey tsunami' will financially swamp health system overblown: studies

VANCOUVER - Fears that Canada's aging population could lead to soaring health-care costs may be greatly exaggerated, say researchers, who suggest that the predicted "grey tsunami" may turn out to be more like a "grey glacier....More

P.E.I. expanding vaccination program to prevent whooping cough in newborns

CHARLOTTETOWN - P.E.I. is expanding a vaccine program to protect newborns against the spread of pertussis, better known as whooping cough....More

One in 10 suicides committed by people with an illness: Study

A new report out of the U.K. says 10% of suicides are committed by terminally and chronically ill patients, and there should be better prevention efforts for this "vulnerable" group of people....More

Hockey Canada wants more non-bodychecking options for young players

MONTREAL - Hockey Canada is seeking to create more options for young players looking to avoid the risks that come with playing in contact leagues....More

Harper announces two-year, $60 M extension to northern health care fund

YELLOWKNIFE - The federal government is extending by two years an agreement to help fund health care in Canada's three northern territories....More

Meat pies from London, Ont., bakery recalled, don't label milk ingredient

LONDON, Ont. - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says meat pies made by an Ontario bakery are being recalled because the labels on the product fail to say they contain milk....More

65 million more obese adults in US by 2030, report predicts

There will be 65 million more obese adults in the U. S. and 11 million more in the U.K. by 2030, leading to millions of additional cases of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer, say researchers at Columbia University and Oxford University....More

Doctors to make house calls for seniors if McGuinty Liberals re-elected:Matthews

TORONTO - The Liberals kicked off the last week before the provincial election campaign by appealing to seniors with a promise to bring back doctor house calls....More

Worried about concussions? Keep kids out of the boxing ring, doctors say

TORONTO - While the debate over hits in minor hockey rages on, pediatricians are calling attention to another sport they say threatens kids' and teens' health: boxing....More

N.L. surgeon Dr. John Haggie begins term as president of Canadian doctors group

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Dr. John Haggie, a general and vascular surgeon from Gander, N.L., has taken over the helm of the Canadian Medical Association....More

Exercise can help with depression: Study

Exercise can work as effectively as a second medication for those dealing with depression, research shows....More

Disease-resisting mosquitoes spread in wild; may help control tropical illness: study

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Scientists have made a promising advance for controlling dengue fever, a tropical disease spread by mosquito bites. They've rapidly replaced mosquitoes in the wild with skeeters that don't spread the dengue virus....More

Alberta orders fatality inquiry into death of mental health worker at home

EDMONTON - Alberta Justice Minister Verlyn Olsen is ordering a fatality inquiry into the death of a mental health worker on the job....More

West Nile still a risk, experts warn after woman's death linked to virus

TORONTO - Canadians should stay vigilant about fending off mosquitoes in the coming weeks, health officials said after an Ontario woman's death was linked to the West Nile virus....More

Vaccines largely safe, with few proven side-effects, rare serious problems: review

WASHINGTON - Vaccines can cause certain side-effects, but serious ones appear very rare — and there's no link with autism and Type 1 diabetes, the Institute of Medicine says in the first comprehensive safety review in 17 years....More

Vaccination rate for girls against cancer-causing HPV is lagging, CDC says

ATLANTA - Only about half of the teenage girls in the U.S. have rolled up their sleeves for a controversial vaccine against cervical cancer — a rate well below those for two other vaccinations aimed at adolescents. The vaccine hit the market in 2006....More

Harper announces two-year, $60 M extension to northern health care fund

YELLOWKNIFE - The federal government is extending by two years an agreement to help fund health care in Canada's three northern territories....More

Did rigours of election campaign affect Layton's ability to fight cancer?

TORONTO - The physical and mental stress of the gruelling spring election campaign could have weakened Jack Layton's ability to fight the cancer that ultimately claimed his life, depending on how far the NDP leader pushed himself, a cancer specialist says....More

Case of measles confirmed in Alberta

EDMONTON â€" A confirmed case of the measles has the province working to make sure the potentially fatal virus doesn't spread any further....More

1 in 4 mental health patients controlled with drugs, restraints, seclusion: report

TORONTO - Despite being intended as procedures of last resort, a significant proportion of patients admitted to mental health beds in Ontario are subjected to behavioural control measures such as physical restraints, medications and seclusion, a study has found....More

University of Calgary records serious health complications in MS patients

CALGARY - Researchers at the University of Calgary have documented some serious complications suffered by multiple sclerosis patients who travelled outside of Canada to undergo a controversial treatment for their disease....More

N.L. surgeon Dr. John Haggie begins term as president of Canadian doctors group

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Dr. John Haggie, a general and vascular surgeon from Gander, N.L., has taken over the helm of the Canadian Medical Association....More

Exercise can help with depression: Study

Exercise can work as effectively as a second medication for those dealing with depression, research shows....More

Disease-resisting mosquitoes spread in wild; may help control tropical illness: study

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Scientists have made a promising advance for controlling dengue fever, a tropical disease spread by mosquito bites. They've rapidly replaced mosquitoes in the wild with skeeters that don't spread the dengue virus....More

Alberta orders fatality inquiry into death of mental health worker at home

EDMONTON - Alberta Justice Minister Verlyn Olsen is ordering a fatality inquiry into the death of a mental health worker on the job....More

Construction starts on addictions centre that lets people bring kids

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. - Construction has begun on a new addictions and mental health facility in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan....More

Canadians seek greater accountability in patient care, says doctors' report card

TORONTO - Most Canadians want greater input and accountability when it comes to patient care, including a formalized process to voice complaints about the health-care system, according to a new report....More

Aglukkaq says feds want accountability from provinces in new health deal

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says Ottawa will work with the provinces and territories to renew the $41-billion health accord with emphasis on accountability and putting patients first....More

Two-year-olds know more than they can say: Study

They may not speak in full sentences -- "Give ball" or "More juice" -- but two-year-olds have a better grasp of grammar than previously thought, a new study says. Psychologists at the University of Liverpool conducted the study....More

Rick Hansen to mark 25th anniversary of N.L. start of Man In Motion Tour

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Rick Hansen will return Wednesday to the spot overlooking the Atlantic Ocean where he turned the first wheel 25 years ago to the day on his Man in Motion Tour....More

Measles case prompts public alert from Alberta Health Services

EDMONTON - A confirmed case of measles in the Edmonton area has prompted Alberta Health Services to issue a public alert....More

Did rigours of election campaign affect Layton's ability to fight cancer?

TORONTO - The physical and mental stress of the gruelling spring election campaign could have weakened Jack Layton's ability to fight the cancer that ultimately claimed his life, depending on how far the NDP leader pushed himself, a cancer specialist says....More

1 in 4 mental health patients controlled with drugs, restraints, seclusion: report

TORONTO - Despite being intended as procedures of last resort, a significant proportion of patients admitted to mental health beds in Ontario are subjected to behavioural control measures such as physical restraints, medications and seclusion, a study has found....More

Medical advisory panel urges doctors to discuss user fees and insurance services

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - A contentious report from an advisory panel to the Canadian Medical Association says it should consider everything from user fees to franchises and "various insurance schemes" to bolster Canada's flagging health care system....More

Hot, dry summer gives allergy relief but may portend worse in fall, spring

OTTAWA - Scorching temperatures and sparse rain across much of Canada have given respite to some seasonal allergy sufferers this summer. Grasses have shrivelled and the onset of the late-summer ragweed scourge has been somewhat delayed....More

Hospitals much faster at opening blocked arteries for heart attack patients: study

In a spectacular turnabout, hospitals in the U.S. are treating almost all major heart attack patients within the recommended 90 minutes of arrival, a new study finds. Just five years ago, less than half of them got their clogged arteries opened that fast....More

Critically ill Kelowna humanitarian back in Canada as medical bills mount

KELOWNA, B.C. - A Kelowna, B.C., woman who became critically ill while doing humanitarian work in southeast Asia is expected to be flown to a Kelowna hospital sometime Monday....More

Construction starts on addictions centre that lets people bring kids

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. - Construction has begun on a new addictions and mental health facility in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan....More

Canadians seek greater accountability in patient care, says doctors' report card

TORONTO - Most Canadians want greater input and accountability when it comes to patient care, including a formalized process to voice complaints about the health-care system, according to a new report....More

Aglukkaq says feds want accountability from provinces in new health deal

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says Ottawa will work with the provinces and territories to renew the $41-billion health accord with emphasis on accountability and putting patients first....More

Did rigours of election campaign affect Layton's ability to fight cancer?

TORONTO - The physical and mental stress of the gruelling spring election campaign could have weakened Jack Layton's ability to fight the cancer that ultimately claimed his life, depending on how far the NDP leader pushed himself, a cancer specialist says....More

Cancer cells change jobs, making them harder to kill: Researchers

New research out of Harvard and MIT shows that cancer cells exist in a "decentralized society" rather than a hierarchical one, and that makes them harder to kill....More

ADHD on the rise amongst U.S. kids

More U.S. children are being diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than ever before, a new report shows....More

Stillborn death prompts review at B.C. hospital

The Vancouver Island Health Authority has called for an independent external review in the case of a stillborn baby earlier this month....More

CFIA/Allergy Alert: Undeclared Milk in Certain Trung Nguyen Brand G7 Coffee

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Far East North America Food Ltd. are warning people with allergies to milk not to consume certain Trung Nguyen brand G7 Coffee. The affected product contains milk which is not declared on the label....More

New data spill shows risk of online health records

SAN FRANCISCO - Until recently, medical files belonging to nearly 300,000 Californians sat unsecured on the Internet for the entire world to see. There were insurance forms, Social Security numbers and doctors' notes....More

Cigarette makers will try to get Ontario lawsuit dismissed:anti-smoking group

TORONTO - Tobacco companies targeted in a $50-billion lawsuit by the Ontario government are expected to argue they're outside the province's jurisdiction....More

Critically ill Kelowna humanitarian back in Canada as medical bills mount

KELOWNA, B.C. - A Kelowna, B.C., woman who became critically ill while doing humanitarian work in southeast Asia is expected to be flown to a Kelowna hospital sometime Monday....More

Canadians seek greater accountability in patient care, says doctors' report card

TORONTO - Most Canadians want greater input and accountability when it comes to patient care, including a formalized process to voice complaints about the health-care system, according to a new report....More

US Legionnaire's disease cases tripled in past decade; elderly most at risk, death rate down

ATLANTA - Cases of Legionnaire's disease have tripled in the last decade, U.S. health officials said Thursday, but the risk of dying from it is lower because of more effective treatment....More

Tories' Dr. Leitch must choose ethics over politics on asbestos exports: MDs

Hundreds of health professionals are urging a doctor-turned-Conservative MP to honour her medical oath and work against Canada's controversial asbestos industry....More

Saskatchewan plans to replace decrepit, century-old psychiatric hospital

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. - The Saskatchewan government says it is moving ahead with plans to replace a century-old psychiatric hospital in North Battleford....More

Federal health minister announces 25 research projects across six provinces

CALGARY - The federal health minister has announced funding for 25 research projects in six provinces. Leona Aglukkaq (ah-GLOO'-kack) says results from the studies could lead to new policies on health-care delivery....More

B.C. casinos to improve detection of problem gamblers who asked to be barred

VANCOUVER - Problem gamblers who have voluntarily asked B.C. casinos to prevent them from placing bets should expect more rapid detection and greater consequences for breaching their agreement. The pledge comes from B.C....More

B.C. casinos to improve detection of problem gamblers who ask to be kept out

VANCOUVER - Casinos in British Columbia are sharpening surveillance and considering stiffer penalties for thousands of problem gamblers who voluntarily ask to be prevented from placing bets — a program that has prompted several lawsuits from gamblers claiming the...More

Alberta announces new child centre in Calgary for child abuse victims, families

CALGARY - The Alberta government has announced a new centre in Calgary to support child abuse victims and their families. Youth Services Minister Yvonne Fritz says the centre will be able to respond immediately when allegations of child abuse are raised....More

LifeWatch

--- (HEALTH-Rethinking-Tattoos) Tattoo parlours can be found in almost every community, but with them comes the growth in the business of removing the art work. Winnipeg dermatologist Dr....More

Calgary man diagnosed with HIV facing new sex assault charge

CALGARY - A 56-year-old Calgary man who was charged last month with aggravated sexual assault involving a 17-year-old girl is facing a new charge....More

TV personality Montel Williams part of non-profit group seeking DC medical marijuana licenses

WASHINGTON - TV personality Montel Williams is part of a group seeking licenses to grow and dispense medical marijuana in Washington D.C. The Washington Post (http://wapo....More

This hour has 22 minutes ... less; TV watching takes minutes off your life, says study

Watching TV can take years off your life, according to a new study. Australian researchers examined data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and from a lifestyle study involving 11,000 people....More

Parents' perceptions of height, weight skew kids' obesity rates: StatsCan

OTTAWA - Research has already found that Canadians think they're skinnier and taller than they really are, but a new study suggests they're also off the mark when it comes to the height and weight of their kids....More

Just 1 in 5 medical malpractice cases end in settlements for patients: study

ATLANTA - Only one in five malpractice claims against doctors leads to a settlement or other payout, according to the most comprehensive study of these claims in two decades....More

Herbal supplements may adversely affect chemotherapy: Study

Patients undergoing chemotherapy may think they're helping their treatment by taking herbal supplements, but a report out of Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital suggests they may be doing more harm than good....More

Dogs can be trained to sniff out lung cancer, says study

TORONTO - Man's best friend may become even more indispensable after a study found dogs may be used to detect lung cancer with a high accuracy. News reports say researchers in Germany found that trained dogs could detect a tumour in 70 per cent of patients....More

Alberta's Mar says his vision of user-pay care does not include ER, transplants

CALGARY - Alberta Tory leadership candidate Gary Mar says his vision of private health care doesn't include patients slapping down a credit card to cover emergency room visits, organ transplants or cardiac surgery....More

Tories say threatening note to asbestos widow was standard legal procedure

The Conservative Party of Canada offered an explanation Monday as to why it issued a threatening letter to the widow of an asbestos victim: it was standard legal procedure....More

Self-affirmation boosts social confidence: Study

It may sound like another version of "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and, doggone it, people like me," but some Canadian researchers say self-affirmation has real-life social benefits....More

McGuinty won't rush report into Niagara area hospitals before Oct. 6 election

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government will not be rushed into producing a report on deaths from C. difficile and other problems that have undermined public confidence in Niagara-area hospitals, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday....More

McGuinty promises eight-week unpaid leave from work for family caregivers

TORONTO - A program that guarantees jobs for people who take time off work to care for a terminally ill loved one will be extended to more families if the Liberals win the Oct. 6 Ontario election, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday....More

Kingston hospital declares C. diff outbreak; 12 cases discovered in past month

KINGSTON, Ont. - A hospital in Kingston, Ont., is battling an outbreak of Clostridium difficile. Kingston General Hospital officials say they have discovered 12 new cases of the infection over the last month....More

Female smokers' bladder cancer risk now equals that of males: study

TORONTO - Cigarette smoking has long been linked to bladder cancer, but the risk of the disease developing appears to have climbed higher over the last several decades, especially among women who regularly light up, a large U.S. study has determined....More

Calgary man diagnosed with HIV facing new sex assault charge

CALGARY - A 56-year-old Calgary man who was charged last month with aggravated sexual assault involving a 17-year-old girl is facing a new charge....More

TV personality Montel Williams part of non-profit group seeking DC medical marijuana licenses

WASHINGTON - TV personality Montel Williams is part of a group seeking licenses to grow and dispense medical marijuana in Washington D.C. The Washington Post (http://wapo....More

Beyond behaviour, definition of addiction stresses it is a chronic brain disorder

WASHINGTON - Addiction is not only about willpower. It is a chronic brain disease, says a new definition aimed at helping families and their doctors understand better the challenges of treating it....More

Barrie Grocery Assistance Program closes doors after running out of food

BARRIE, Ont. - The cupboards are bare and the doors are closed at a Barrie food bank that serves about 15,000 people a year....More

Back-to-school brings boom in asthma attacks, hospital visits, experts say

TORONTO - Oni Joseph used to go to her son's school each fall and explain why he was constantly sniffling and out of breath. Her son, 13-year-old Toussaint, was "born wheezy," and his asthma has only grown worse with time, the Ottawa poet and mother said....More

Autism risks for siblings of affected kids are higher than previously thought, new study says

CHICAGO - A new study suggests nearly one in five children with an autistic older sibling will develop the disorder too — a rate much higher than previously thought....More

Army Rangers see big drop in 'preventable' deaths with do-it-yourself battlefield medicine

CHICAGO - When Army Ranger Leroy Petry's hand was blown off by a grenade as he was saving his comrades in battle, he knew just what to do. He used his remaining hand to twist a tourniquet around his arm to avoid bleeding to death. Sgt....More

Activity guide aims to help get children moving in after school period

TORONTO - With summer vacation winding down, a new activity guide is aiming to help parents encourage their kids to keep moving, particularly after the school day is over....More

'Shameful': Ontario mayor sends Conservatives stern note in dispute over asbestos

The mayor of Sarnia, Ont., has written a letter to the Conservative Party of Canada, accusing it of "absolutely shameful" behaviour in its dispute with the widow of an asbestos victim....More

Tories say threatening note to asbestos widow was standard legal procedure

The Conservative Party of Canada offered an explanation Monday as to why it issued a threatening letter to the widow of an asbestos victim: it was standard legal procedure....More

VRE bacteria stops new admissions at one Owen Sound hospital surgical unit

OWEN SOUND, Ont. - The all-clear may be given Sunday after a bacterial infection forced officials to close a surgical unit at the Owen Sound hospital to new admissions....More

Seven people from centre for people with disabilities sent to Montreal hospital

MONTREAL - Five adults and two children from a centre for people with disabilities were rushed to hospital on Friday after being overcome by varnish fumes....More

Province, aboriginal leaders pledge to fix Saskatchewan's child welfare system

REGINA - Métis Nation of Saskatchewan president Robert Doucette is a child of "the 60s Scoop" — a term applied to a time when many First Nations and Metis children were taken from their families and put into non-aboriginal foster homes....More

EHealth Ontario workers start class-action suit to get wage increases, bonuses

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government vowed Friday to fight a proposed class-action suit by employees at scandal-plagued eHealth Ontario, who have taken the first step in the legal action to get pay raises....More

Drugs, sex, laundry! Here's what to cover in the pre-college talk with teens

NEW YORK, N.Y. - When kids are old enough to understand, parents have The Talk, about birds and bees and how — poof — babies are born when two people love each other....More

Niagara Falls deli recalls meat that may have been contaminated by listeria

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. - A deli in Niagara Falls, Ont. is recalling pre-packaged meats that they say may be contaminated by listeria....More

Tories tussle with asbestos widow over use of party logo in ad campaign

The federal Conservative party has sent a threatening email to the widow of an asbestos victim in the latest chapter of Canada's debate over the hazardous mineral....More

Autism risks for siblings of affected kids are higher than previously thought, new study says

CHICAGO - A new study suggests nearly one in five children with an autistic older sibling will develop the disorder too — a rate much higher than previously thought....More

Health Canada wants recall of some cleaning products from Orange TKO Industries

OTTAWA - Health Canada says some consumer chemical products sold under the brand of Orange TKO Industries are missing mandatory labelling and child-resistant closures....More

Experiment destroys leukemia in 3 patients; their own blood cells hunt down cancer

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Scientists are reporting the first clear success with gene therapy to treat leukemia, turning the patients' own blood cells into assassins that hunt down and wipe out their cancer....More

Charges withdrawn against support worker at Pickering, Ont., nursing home

PICKERING, Ont. - Charges have been dropped against an employee of a Pickering, Ont., nursing home in connection with the death of an elderly resident....More

Universities watch for signs of distress as more students under stress seek help

TORONTO - Universities across the country will be keeping a watchful eye on their flocks, looking for signs of distress as the fall semester kicks off....More

U of Alberta study suggests after-hours clinics reduce emergency ward use

EDMONTON - A study by the University of Alberta suggests after-hours medical clinics can reduce demands on stressed hospital emergency wards — if the clinics have enough room....More

MS gene findings raise questions about Zamboni theory but trials still planned

TORONTO - A huge international study that has bolstered the genetic evidence that MS has its roots in an aberrant immune system has added to questions about the validity of a theory that obstructed neck veins are behind the progressive neurological disorder....More

From daredevil to almost mainstream in 6 years: Face transplants allow return to normal life

They savour pizza and burgers, no longer frighten children, and many of them can walk the streets without people knowing they have someone else's cheeks, nose, lips and skin....More

B.C. baby thrown from car in U.S. crash, taken to Seattle hospital

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. - A three-month-old baby boy from Surrey, B.C. is recovering in a Seattle hospital with head injuries after he was thrown from a vehicle during a crash on a Washington state highway today....More

Online tool can help Canadians make best food choices and track results

TORONTO - Dietitians of Canada has improved its online tool to help Canadians plan meals, set goals for healthy eating and physical activity and track the results....More

No criminal investigation into queue-jumping in Alberta health care: RCMP

EDMONTON - The RCMP says it found only anecdotes, stories and rumours when it looked into allegations of queue-jumping in Alberta's health-care system....More

New meat inspection systems in BC, Sask., Man., could make meat unsafe: union

VANCOUVER - Ottawa's decision to toss out federal meat inspectors from plants in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba could put consumers at risk as the provinces are pushed to rapidly cook up substitute systems, warns the workers' union....More

Negotiations continue to avert strike among B.C.'s 15,000 social workers

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Negotiations are continuing in an attempt to avert a strike among B.C.'s 15,000 community social service workers. Workers are in a position to strike at any time, but Oliver Rohlfs of the B.C....More

How long can someone survive in cold water? Being young, healthy helps

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The 12-year-old boy who was rescued after spending 20 minutes in the cold Pacific likely survived because of his age, among other factors, experts say....More

Health Canada wants recall of some cleaning products from Orange TKO Industries

OTTAWA - Health Canada says some consumer chemical products sold under the brand of Orange TKO Industries are missing mandatory labelling and child-resistant closures....More

Experiment destroys leukemia in 3 patients; their own blood cells hunt down cancer

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Scientists are reporting the first clear success with gene therapy to treat leukemia, turning the patients' own blood cells into assassins that hunt down and wipe out their cancer....More

Charges withdrawn against support worker at Pickering, Ont., nursing home

PICKERING, Ont. - Charges have been dropped against an employee of a Pickering, Ont., nursing home in connection with the death of an elderly resident....More

Search for 'intelligence genes' frustrates scientists; 1,000 genes with small effects on IQ

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Scientists who hunt for "intelligence genes" used to think there were fewer than half a dozen of them. In recent years, they determined there may be at least 1,000 — each with just a tiny effect on the differences in people's IQ....More

Patrons of Vancouver restaurant warned to watch for hepatitis A symptoms

VANCOUVER - Patrons of a Vancouver pizza and steak house should watch for symptoms of a viral illness that affects the liver, warn local health officials....More

Nova Scotia stops paying for hot tubs, gym memberships out of special needs fund

HALIFAX - The government of Nova Scotia says it will no longer pay for hot tubs and gym memberships for social assistance recipients out of special needs funds....More

Most U.S. rabies cases found in wildlife, not pets, thanks to vaccinations

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Rabies prevention in the United States is by and large a success story, with just one to four people dying of rabies each year in the U.S. thanks to widespread pet vaccinations and aggressive treatment for people bitten by potentially rabid animals....More

Immigrants' health declines the longer in Canada, especially Chinese: study

TORONTO - The longer immigrants reside in Canada, the greater their risk of developing cardiovascular disease — and that effect is most pronounced among people of Chinese origin, a study suggests....More

HIV teen girl appears in Alberta court on charges of having unprotected sex

EDMONTON - An HIV-positive girl is set to make her first appearance in an Edmonton court later today on charges of having unprotected sex without warning her partners. RCMP officers took the girl into custody in the town of Edson, Alta., on the weekend....More

Boy or girl? Test gives answer with surprising accuracy but raises concerns

CHICAGO - Boy or girl? A simple blood test in mothers-to-be can answer that question with surprising accuracy at about seven weeks, a research analysis has found. Though not widely offered by U.S....More

Alberta Health Services closes piercing shop; urges clients to get tested

COLEMAN, Alta. - Health officials have closed a piercing shop in southwestern Alberta and are urging clients to get tested for contagious diseases....More

Reward system OK for daytime potty training, but not for nights: doctor

TORONTO - Little scientific evidence exists to say one toilet training method trumps another for little ones making the switch from diapers or pull-ups, says a pediatric urologist. Dr....More

Report: South Africa's maternal death rate quadruples in 10 years as nurses abuse patients

JOHANNESBURG - One woman waited 1 1/2 hours at the hospital, only to see a nurse who yelled that she was "lying about being in labour." Three hours later, her baby was stillborn....More

Prince Edward Island needs specialist to treat arthritis, Tory leader says

CHARLOTTETOWN - The leader of the Opposition in Prince Edward Island says the province must do more to recruit a specialist to help treat the 21,000 Islanders with arthritis. Olive Crane says if the Conservatives win the Oct....More

'Sad day' for whistleblowers, union warns as board rules on fired scientists

OTTAWA - Two of three scientists fired by Health Canada in a long-running whistleblowing saga have lost a bid to get their jobs back....More

Search for 'intelligence genes' frustrates scientists; 1,000 genes with small effects on IQ

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Scientists who hunt for "intelligence genes" used to think there were fewer than half a dozen of them. In recent years, they determined there may be at least 1,000 — each with just a tiny effect on the differences in people's IQ....More

Nova Scotia stops paying for hot tubs, gym memberships out of special needs fund

HALIFAX - The government of Nova Scotia says it will no longer pay for hot tubs and gym memberships for social assistance recipients out of special needs funds....More

Immigrants' health declines the longer in Canada, especially Chinese: study

TORONTO - The longer immigrants reside in Canada, the greater their risk of developing cardiovascular disease — and that effect is most pronounced among people of Chinese origin, a study suggests....More

HIV teen girl appears in Alberta court on charges of having unprotected sex

EDMONTON - An HIV-positive girl is set to make her first appearance in an Edmonton court later today on charges of having unprotected sex without warning her partners. RCMP officers took the girl into custody in the town of Edson, Alta., on the weekend....More

Trauma from cyberstalking even more intense than in-person harassment: expert

TORONTO - For all its obvious benefits, there is also a dark side to the cyberworld: online stalking and harassment that can leave victims feeling as if there's no safe haven providing escape from their pursuers....More

HIV Edmonton suggests teen may not have felt safe disclosing condition

EDMONTON - An organization in Edmonton that assists people who are HIV-positive is urging caution before judging a girl police say may be putting sexual partners at risk....More

Regina researcher hopes to find that aerobic exercise helps vets with PTSD

REGINA - University of Regina researcher Mathew Fetzner has seen the mental toll that war can have. The 27-year-old is now a doctoral student in the university's psychology department, but was once a military man himself....More

Police in Alberta find HIV-positive teen who was subject of public warning

EDMONTON - Police in Edmonton say they've found the HIV-positive girl whom they allege had unprotected sex without warning her partners....More

CFIA issues health hazard alert for mussels that may contain a biotoxin

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain mussels that may contain Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) biotoxin. The affected mussels were harvested in British Columbia by Island Sea Farms Inc....More

Catholic hospitals object to covering birth control

WASHINGTON - They defied the bishops to support President Barack Obama's health-care overhaul. Now Catholic hospitals are dismayed the law may force them to cover birth control free of charge to their employees....More

Sports OK for kids in hot weather; caution should trump competition, pediatricians group says

CHICAGO - Playing sports in hot, steamy weather is safe for healthy children and teen athletes, so long as precautions are taken and the drive to win doesn't trump common sense, the nation's largest pediatricians group says....More

Sports OK for kids in hot weather; caution should trump competition, pediatricians group says

CHICAGO - Playing sports in hot, steamy weather is safe for healthy children and teen athletes, so long as precautions are taken and the drive to win doesn't trump common sense, top U.S. pediatricians say....More

Number of new HIV infections stable at 50,000 each year, but big increase in young men

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The number of Americans newly infected with the AIDS virus each year has been holding steady at about 50,000, according to a government report released Wednesday. But a U.S....More

New Brunswick government seeks public input on future of blood processing

FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick government is asking the public for input on how to proceed with the management of blood processing in the province — a week after releasing a $350,000 study on the issue....More

Citing health concerns, many schools reconsider perfect-attendance awards

At his daughter's high school graduation ceremony last year, Dr. Anthony Billittier was struck by the number of students receiving awards for perfect attendance. As commissioner of health for Erie County, N.Y....More

Study finds abiding by new US nutritional guidelines means spending more at store

SEATTLE - A healthy diet is expensive and could make it difficult for Americans to meet new U.S. nutritional guidelines, according to a study published Thursday that says the government should do more to help consumers eat healthier....More

Rare breast cancer reports added to label of drug for hair loss, enlarged prostate

OTTAWA - Health Canada says labels are being changed on finasteride drugs to add safety information on rare reports of breast cancer in men....More

Mumps and measles cases serve as a vaccination reminder: Ontario's top doctor

TORONTO - Ontario's chief medical officer says recent cases of mumps and measles should serve as reminders for everyone to get their vaccine shots....More

Drug Multaq risky for one kind of atrial fibrillation: Health Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising doctors not to prescribe the drug Multaq to patients with a certain heart rhythm disorder after a large international study found the medication may increase their risk of serious cardiovascular events....More

Cargill recalls 36 million pounds (16.33M kilos) of ground turkey linked to salmonella

WASHINGTON - Meat giant Cargill is recalling 36 million pounds (16.33 million kilograms) of ground turkey linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak that has killed one person in California and sickened at least 76 other people....More

California death, 76 illnesses linked to ground turkey as government still looks for culprit

WASHINGTON - The government is scrambling to find the source of a salmonella outbreak likely linked to ground turkey that has killed one and sickened dozens more....More

Aziga dangerous offender decision due Tuesday; convicted of murder by HIV

HAMILTON - A man convicted of murder through HIV transmission is expected to learn today in a Hamilton court if he'll be declared a dangerous offender....More

Quick, low-cost tests can accurately detect developmental delays in kids: study

TORONTO - Simple tests can accurately pick up developmental delays in children before they start school, but too few doctors are using the screening tools, researchers say....More

Number of new HIV infections stable at 50,000 each year, but big increase in young men

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The number of Americans newly infected with the AIDS virus each year has been holding steady at about 50,000, according to a government report released Wednesday. But a U.S....More

New Brunswick government seeks public input on future of blood processing

FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick government is asking the public for input on how to proceed with the management of blood processing in the province — a week after releasing a $350,000 study on the issue....More

Citing health concerns, many schools reconsider perfect-attendance awards

At his daughter's high school graduation ceremony last year, Dr. Anthony Billittier was struck by the number of students receiving awards for perfect attendance. As commissioner of health for Erie County, N.Y....More

Mumps and measles cases serve as a vaccination reminder: Ontario's top doctor

TORONTO - Ontario's chief medical officer says recent cases of mumps and measles should serve as reminders for everyone to get their vaccine shots....More

Cargill recalls 36 million pounds (16.33M kilos) of ground turkey linked to salmonella

WASHINGTON - Meat giant Cargill is recalling 36 million pounds (16.33 million kilograms) of ground turkey linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak that has killed one person in California and sickened at least 76 other people....More

HIV killer declared dangerous offender, could be jailed indefinitely

HAMILTON - A man convicted of murder through HIV transmission could spend the rest of his life in jail after an Ontario court ruled Tuesday that he can't be trusted to disclose his condition to future sexual partners....More

HIV killer declared dangerous offender, could be jailed indefinitely

HAMILTON - An Ontario man believed to be the first person in Canada convicted of murder through HIV transmission was declared a dangerous offender in a Hamilton court Tuesday. The designation means Johnson Aziga could be jailed indefinitely....More

HIV killer declared dangerous offender, could be jailed indefinitely

HAMILTON - A man believed to be the first person in Canada convicted of murder through HIV transmission has been declared a dangerous offender. The designation means Johnson Aziga could be jailed indefinitely....More

Fast track my right-to-die lawsuit, dying woman asks B.C. court

VANCOUVER - A dying woman is asking the B.C. Supreme Court to fast track her lawsuit so she can have a doctor-assisted suicide, reopening a debate that was last famously battled in the courts almost 20 years ago....More

Elective surgeries to resume at Yellowknife hospital after sterilization concern

YELLOWKNIFE - A date has been set to resume elective surgeries that were put on hold at Yellowknife's hospital over concerns about surgical tools....More

CTV News Toronto anchor Ken Shaw says he had prostate cancer but is fine now

TORONTO - CTV News Toronto anchor Ken Shaw says he has been treated for prostate cancer and is now doing fine. Shaw took a moment during Tuesday's 6 p.m. newscast to share news of his illness, having returned to work after a two-month absence....More

California death, 76 illnesses linked to ground turkey as government still looks for culprit

WASHINGTON - The government is scrambling to find the source of a salmonella outbreak likely linked to ground turkey that has killed one and sickened dozens more....More

Aziga dangerous offender decision due Tuesday; convicted of murder by HIV

HAMILTON - A man convicted of murder through HIV transmission is expected to learn today in a Hamilton court if he'll be declared a dangerous offender....More

Alberta settles with former health boss who left after cookie comment

EDMONTON - Alberta has reached a settlement with a former top health bureaucrat who left last fall after an ill-chosen cookie comment. Alberta Health Services says Stephen Duckett has been paid out more than $735,000....More

Kitigan Zibi: How one First Nation broke the tragic trend in child welfare

KITIGAN ZIBI, Que. - When Robin Decontie was growing up on her Western Quebec reserve, sharing her home with foster children was a routine matter....More

As research shows risks of smoking crack, experts and advocates urge free pipes

VANCOUVER - Among the impoverished drug addicts in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, crack cocaine users face an extra hurdle to feed their addiction....More

Who's speaking? Problem recognizing voices may give clue to dyslexia

WASHINGTON - Pick up the phone and hear, "Hey, what's up?" Chances are, those few words are enough to recognize who's speaking — perhaps unless you have dyslexia....More

Problem recognizing voices may give clue to dyslexia

WASHINGTON - Pick up the phone and hear, "Hey, what's up?" Chances are, those few words are enough to recognize who's speaking — perhaps unless you have dyslexia....More

Doctors still face issues moving between provinces

TORONTO - Health-care professionals are still having difficulty moving across borders within Canada despite provincial governments' efforts to reduce barriers to labour mobility....More

Alzheimer's cafes hope to lessen isolation felt by patients and their families

Nancy Blezy was intrigued when she heard about a cafe opening in a Nova Scotia community that would cater to Alzheimer's patients and their families....More

Aziga dangerous offender decision due Tuesday; convicted of murder by HIV

HAMILTON - A man convicted of murder through HIV transmission is expected to learn today in a Hamilton court if he'll be declared a dangerous offender....More

Feds can't be dragged into suits against Big Tobacco: Supreme Court

OTTAWA - Canada's top court has snuffed out any hope Big Tobacco had of dragging the feds into lawsuits against cigarette companies....More

Feds can't be dragged into suits against Big Tobacco: Supreme Court

OTTAWA - Canada's top court has snuffed out any hope Big Tobacco had of dragging the feds into lawsuits against cigarette companies....More

Cold turkey wrong way to quit the bottle, experts warn after Winehouse death

TORONTO - Alcoholics everywhere are being warned not to go cold turkey when trying to put down the bottle following reports singer Amy Winehouse ignored her doctor's advice to cut down on her heavy drinking gradually....More

Clarification: Med Student-Slaying story

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - In a July 26 story, The Associated Press, relying on information from a prosecutor and the Caribbean Medical University in Curacao, described the suspect in a campus slaying as a Dubai man and originally from that Gulf country....More

Alberta settles with former health boss who left after cookie comment

EDMONTON - Alberta has reached a settlement with a former top health bureaucrat who left last fall after an ill-chosen cookie comment. Alberta Health Services says Stephen Duckett has been paid out more than $735,000....More

Kitigan Zibi: How one First Nation broke the tragic trend in child welfare

KITIGAN ZIBI, Que. - When Robin Decontie was growing up on her Western Quebec reserve, sharing her home with foster children was a routine matter....More

As research shows risks of smoking crack, experts and advocates urge free pipes

VANCOUVER - Among the impoverished drug addicts in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, crack cocaine users face an extra hurdle to feed their addiction....More

Doctors still face issues moving between provinces

TORONTO - Health-care professionals are still having difficulty moving across borders within Canada despite provincial governments' efforts to reduce barriers to labour mobility....More