Native leaders call for health care inquiry after baby girl dies of pneumonia

WINNIPEG - Paul Ross and Erna Hastings were young, new parents but they knew something was wrong with their little Drianna. The two-month-old girl was having trouble breathing. She cried every time her little body was wracked with coughs....More

Native leaders call for health care inquiry after baby dies of pneumonia

WINNIPEG - Native leaders are calling on Ottawa to hold a public inquiry into health care in northern aboriginal communities following the death of a two-month-old girl....More

Just 1 in 4 Americans with HIV have infection under control with medication: CDC

ATLANTA - Only about one in four Americans with the AIDS virus have the infection under control with medications, federal health officials said Tuesday. Part of the reason is that about 20 per cent of those infected with HIV don't know it....More

Heads up: Excessive heading in soccer may lead to concussion-like injury: study

TORONTO - Soccer players who have a high rate of heading the ball during games and practices can have brain abnormalities and cognitive problems similar to those experienced by patients with concussions, researchers suggest....More

Fewer teens smoking but binge drinking, driving while high, a concern:survey

TORONTO - Students in Ontario are smoking fewer cigarettes, but binge drinking and driving while high are growing health concerns, according to a new report by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health....More

Aboriginal communities in northern Canada no strangers to health crises

If the news of squalid housing conditions in the northwestern Ontario First Nations community of Attawapaskat sounds familiar, it should....More

Physicians' financial ties may lead to needless MRI scans for lower back pain: study

CHICAGO - There may be good reason to ask about financial ties if your doctor orders an expensive imaging test for your aching back: Patients whose physicians own the equipment are more likely to get scans they might not need than those whose doctors have no financial interest, a...More

Pediatricians say all Canadian babies need a booster at 18 months

OTTAWA - The Canadian Paediatric Society is calling on all provinces and territories to implement a publicly-funded enhanced well-baby visit for all Canadian babies....More

From mumps to polio: School vaccines target range of diseases, some serious

ATLANTA - Most people don't think about polio and diphtheria these days because those diseases have been stamped out in the United States, largely because of vaccines....More

Former male nurse pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 4 female patients

ST. ALBERT, Alta. - A former male nurse at a hospital north of Edmonton has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting four patients....More

Fears of disease outbreak? Half of states see rise in kids skipping school shots

ATLANTA - More parents are opting out of school shots for their kids. In eight states now, more than one in 20 public school kindergartners aren't getting all the vaccines required for attendance, an Associated Press analysis found....More

Campbell family donates $30M to mental health research at Toronto centre

TORONTO - A "monumental" $30-million gift to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health will attract leading scientists from around the world to a new research institute in Toronto, the centre announced Monday....More

As more Americans donate a kidney, a push to better track how donors fare long-term

WASHINGTON - More and more Americans are donating one of their kidneys to a loved one, a friend, even a stranger, and now a move is on to make sure those donors really fare as well as they're promised....More

A month after Attawapiskat cries out for help, outsiders flood in

OTTAWA - A month after the First Nation community of Attawapiskat issued a cry for emergency help, outsiders are now flooding into the small James Bay reserve....More

Study says many Canadians don't have enough time to spend on heart health

TORONTO - The Heart and Stroke Foundation says Canadians are so focused on the here and now that they are losing out on living a full and healthy life....More

Heads up: Excessive heading in soccer may lead to concussion-like injury: study

TORONTO - Soccer players who have a high rate of heading the ball during games and practices can have brain abnormalities and cognitive problems similar to those experienced by patients with concussions, researchers suggest....More

Advocates call for higher taxes to pay for health ahead of ministers' meeting

HALIFAX - Ottawa should expand health care programs by increasing taxes, medicare advocates said Thursday ahead of discussions in Halifax between federal, provincial and territorial health ministers on the next health care accord....More

A quiet milestone: Canada's once-mighty asbestos industry suspends work for first time in 130 years

MONTREAL - Canada's once-mighty asbestos sector has ground to a halt for the first time in 130 years, as production of the controversial fibre has stalled in both of the country's mines....More

Ottawa calls for research proposals for safety study of experimental MS therapy

HALIFAX - The federal government is ready to accept research proposals for an early-phase patient trial of an experimental procedure that's been touted as a potential therapy for people with multiple sclerosis....More

Health accord talks to continue at premiers' meeting next year, ministers say

HALIFAX - Provincial and territorial health ministers said they laid the groundwork for further talks on a new health accord, but offered no details on what that might look like when the current deal expires in 2014....More

Canada's health ministers meet to discuss long-term funding for health care

HALIFAX - Provincial and territorial health ministers will meet in Halifax today with federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq to discuss how to reform and pay for health care after the current accord expires in 2014....More

As barbs fly over breast screening divide, women left to decide what's best for them

TORONTO - The release this week of revamped Canadian breast cancer screening guidelines has set off a war of words between those who support the recommendations and those who predict that following them will lead to more women dying of the disease....More

WHO trying to hit the sweet spot in responding to puzzling new flu virus

The spread of an odd new flu virus that has been jumping from pigs to people in parts of the United States has the World Health Organization gearing up its response planning, a senior official of the agency says....More

Campbell family donates $30M to mental health research at Toronto centre

TORONTO - A "monumental" $30-million gift to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health will attract leading scientists from around the world to a new research institute in Toronto, the centre announced Monday....More

Rare fungal infection caused by bat droppings surfaces in Alberta

RED DEER, - A rare fungal disease for Canada, contracted by inhaling spores from bird or bat droppings, was confirmed in Central Alberta this summer....More

Radioactive cobalt used to attack tumours: 60th anniversary marked in Saskatoon

SASKATOON - Sylvia Fedoruk considers herself a lucky person to have participated in one of Saskatchewan’s historic triumphs in the treatment of cancer....More

NDP, Tories accuse deputy premier Duncan of playing games with kids' health

TORONTO - The Liberal government was "callous and uncaring" in its response to a question about lengthy delays in surgeries for children at a Hamilton hospital, the opposition parties said Thursday....More

England study: Women with low-risk pregnancies can give birth outside hospitals

LONDON - A new study in England shows little difference in complications among the babies of women with low-risk pregnancies who delivered in hospitals versus those who gave birth with midwives at home or in birthing centres....More

As barbs fly over breast screening divide, women left to decide what's best for them

TORONTO - The release this week of revamped Canadian breast cancer screening guidelines has set off a war of words between those who support the recommendations and those who predict that following them will lead to more women dying of the disease....More

Advocates call for higher taxes to pay for health ahead of ministers' meeting

HALIFAX - Ottawa should expand health care programs by increasing taxes, medicare advocates said Thursday ahead of discussions in Halifax between federal, provincial and territorial health ministers on the next health care accord....More

A quiet milestone: Canada's once-mighty asbestos industry suspends work for first time in 130 years

MONTREAL - Canada's once-mighty asbestos sector has ground to a halt for the first time in 130 years, as production of the controversial fibre has stalled in both of the country's mines....More

Canada's health ministers meet to discuss long-term funding for health care

HALIFAX - Provincial and territorial health ministers will meet in Halifax today with federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq to discuss how to reform and pay for health care after the current accord expires in 2014....More

Got ink? Nova Scotia tattoo artists would be regulated under new legislation

HALIFAX - Tattoo artists in Nova Scotia would be required to have a permit and meet standards for cleanliness and infection control under legislation introduced Wednesday....More

Debate rages over new bird flu research; some argue it's not safe to publish

TORONTO - New bird flu research that shows that the dangerous virus can mutate to become easily transmissible among ferrets _ and perhaps humans _ has embroiled the scientific community in a difficult debate....More

Canada's health-spending has 'mixed results' compared to other countries: CIHI

TORONTO - Two new reports say Canada's spending on health care produces mixed results when the system's outcomes are compared to those of other countries....More

Auditor general slams Health Canada for failing to monitor drug safety

OTTAWA - The public is waiting far too long to be warned about significant risks in the drugs they take, the federal auditor general said Tuesday....More

Antidepressants plus psychotropic meds add up to higher crash risk for seniors

TORONTO - It's known that taking certain medications and getting behind the wheel can lead to trouble, but a study of older drivers and antidepressants is adding more clarity to the subject....More

Alberta Premier says no plan to bring back Alberta Health premiums

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Alison Redford says her government won't bring back health-care premiums. Redford says the fees that would cost about $1,000 per family a year are a non-starter....More

Woody's drinks recall expanded to include more products due to glass fragments

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has expanded a recall of certain Woody's alcoholic drinks. The initial recall was issued November 17 on Woody's Mexican Lime Alcoholic Vodka drinks, but now it includes more products....More

Rare fungal infection caused by bat droppingd surfaces in Alberta

RED DEER, - A rare fungal disease for Canada, contracted by inhaling spores from bird or bat droppings, was confirmed in Central Alberta this summer....More

Ottawa and provinces to formally begin talks for post-2014 health deal

OTTAWA - The federal government will officially begin discussions on the next health- care accord this week — talks that will define the fiscal and social-policy relationship between Ottawa and the provinces for years to come....More

New baseball labour contract limits, but doesn't ban, tobacco use

WASHINGTON - Baseball's new labour deal will limit the use of smokeless tobacco by players, but not ban it during games, as some public health groups had sought....More

More patients come forward, allege fake US doctor pumped toxic materials into their buttocks

MIAMI - Several possible victims have come forward alleging a woman posing as a Florida doctor and promising buttocks enhancement pumped their behinds with a toxic concoction of cement, superglue and flat-tire sealant, state health officials said Tuesday....More

Husband of B.C. premier's senior adviser loses government contract

VANCOUVER - The head of the Vancouver Island Health Authority says hiring the husband of a key adviser to Premier Christy Clark without advertising the job was "an honest mistake....More

Highlights of the federal auditor general's fall report to Parliament

OTTAWA - Highlights of the auditor general's fall report to Parliament, delivered Tuesday: — Health Canada is slow to assess potential safety issues when pharmaceutical companies submit new drugs for approval....More

Get kids into school at age 2; study says children and the economy would benefit

TORONTO - An early childhood education study is recommending publicly funded preschool education for all Canadian kids beginning at age two. The report — authored by Margaret McCain, Dr....More

Court orders Ottawa to reconsider health review of popular herbicide Roundup

A court has ordered Health Canada to reconsider its decision not to review the effects of a popular herbicide, a ruling that some say will strengthen the public's hand in forcing the government to answer environmental concerns....More

Auditor general slams Health Canada for failing to monitor drug safety

OTTAWA - The public is waiting far too long to be warned about significant risks in the drugs they take, the federal auditor general said Tuesday....More

Ottawa and provinces to formally begin talks for post-2014 health deal

OTTAWA - The federal government will officially begin discussions on the next health- care accord this week — talks that will define the fiscal and social-policy relationship between Ottawa and the provinces for years to come....More

New breast cancer screening guidelines advise against mammograms for women in 40s

TORONTO - Most women in their 40s should not have routine mammograms and those 50 to 69 can wait slightly longer between the tests than previously recommended, updated Canadian breast cancer screening guidelines advise....More

Key recommendations on breast cancer screening

Here are the key screening recommendations from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care for women with an average risk of developing breast cancer: — No routine mammography for most women aged 40 to 49 because the risk of cancer is low in...More

Cities study how to become age-friendly: better sidewalks, benches, washrooms

TORONTO - Lucy Howe rides a scooter to get around but she bounces uncomfortably when the sidewalks are rough and cracked. Curb cuts that form ramps for getting across the street aren't always wide enough for the scooter, and it's especially difficult in winter....More

Alberta tables health inquiry bill; opponents say it won't get to root of ills

EDMONTON - The Alberta government has tabled new rules for an inquiry into allegations of doctor intimidation — but opponents question whether it will get to the root of the problem....More

Alberta tables health inquiry act; opponents say it won't get to root of ills

EDMONTON - The Alberta government has tabled new rules for an independent inquiry into allegations of doctor intimidation — but opponents say it doesn't have the power to investigate at the highest levels....More

AIDS epidemic levelling off, but AIDS-free generation may still be too optimistic, experts say

LONDON - The AIDS epidemic is levelling off and the number of people newly infected with the virus that causes it has remained unchanged since 2007, the United Nations said in a report Monday....More

Ottawa and provinces to formally begin talks for post-2014 health deal

OTTAWA - The federal government will officially begin discussions on the next health- care accord this week — talks that will define the fiscal and social-policy relationship between Ottawa and the provinces for years to come....More

Attawapiskat wants gov't to call state of emergency to deal with housing crisis

TORONTO - The chief of Attawapiskat wants Ontario to declare a state of emergency to deal with what she says is a looming health crisis on her reserve....More

Health Canada reviews Avastin after FDA pulls approval for breast cancer drug

OTTAWA - Health Canada is actively reviewing the drug Avastin to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks as a treatment for advanced breast cancer. The U.S....More

Debate rages over new bird flu research; some argue it's not safe to publish

TORONTO - New bird flu research that shows that the dangerous virus can mutate to become easily transmissible among ferrets — and perhaps humans — has embroiled the scientific community in a difficult debate....More

Thousands of cancers, or none? Fukushima fallout cases may be hard to detect

FUKUSHIMA, Japan - Even if the worst nuclear accident in 25 years leads to many people developing cancer, we may never find out. Looking back on those early days of radiation horror, that may sound implausible....More

Military vet who went on a hunger strike concerned about treatment

QUEBEC CITY, Que. - A military veteran who went on a four-day hunger strike this month says he's worried the federal government still won't give him the treatment he requires....More

Growing number of Tories uneasy with federal position on asbestos

A growing number of Conservative MPs are questioning their government's position on the export of asbestos, with a group of them independently summoning industry experts to a meeting on Parliament Hill last week....More

Recall expanded of ready-to-eat meals made by Calgary firm

OTTAWA - A recall issued last week for a ready-to-eat Ginger Beef Choice product due to possible Listeria contamination is being expanded. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says 38 ready-to-eat products made by Ginger Beef Choice Ltd....More

AIDS epidemic levelling off, but AIDS-free generation may still be too optimistic, experts say

LONDON - The AIDS epidemic is levelling off and the number of people newly infected with the virus that causes it has remained unchanged since 2007, the United Nations said in a report Monday....More

New workout wants skiers to hit the gym before they hit the slopes

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Hold out your poles and sway your hips side to side. Lift one leg up and try not to lose your balance. There are no steep hills below you or trees to avoid. Instead, you've got hand weights and a stepper....More

Early learning advocate Dr. Fraser Mustard dies at 84

TORONTO - Dr. Fraser Mustard, a Canadian pioneer of early childhood education whose work helped pave the way for full-day kindergarten, has died. He was 84....More

CDC report: Birth rates plummet for young US women amid economy worries

ATLANTA - Health officials say birth rates for America's youngest mothers hit new lows last year. The U.S. birth rate dropped for the third straight year, with declines for most ages and all races, according to a federal report released Thursday....More

B.C. Liberals introduces concussion law forcing injured player from play

VICTORIA - B.C. Liberal backbencher Moira Stilwell has proposed legislation she says will help prevent concussions in youth athletes. Stilwell's private member's bill will make it the law to remove a young athlete from play if a concussion is suspected....More

Alberta to introduce bills to crack down on impaired driving, set election dates

EDMONTON - The Alberta government plans to expand the powers of a group looking into suggestions that officials have intimidated doctors who spoke up about their health-care concerns....More

Alberta health minister says bill coming to give Health Quality Council teeth

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne says the province's Health Quality Council is getting some teeth. Horne says legislation will be introduced Monday to give council greater independence....More

Largest Ronald McDonald House for families with sick kids opening in Toronto

TORONTO - A new low-cost place to stay is ready for families with seriously ill children who must travel from out-of-town to Toronto for medical treatment....More

Doctors treating Japan emperor with antibiotics as hospital stay stretches to 12th day

TOKYO - Japan's royal household says Emperor Akihito has been diagnosed with mild bronchial pneumonia and remains hospitalized for a 12th day. The Imperial Household Agency said in a statement Friday that the emperor is responding to antibiotics....More

No proof patients got hep C at Ottawa clinic investigated by health officials

OTTAWA - Ottawa's Medical Officer of Health says he expects "several individuals" who were patients of an Ottawa doctor will test positive for various infections. But Dr. Isra Levy won't comment on a class-action suit launched against Dr....More

New standards for hospital construction should cut patient infections

TORONTO - A new made-in-Canada standard for the construction of new hospitals and the renovation of existing ones was unveiled Wednesday....More

Inspection agency, company, warn not to eat Ginger Beer Choice special combo

EDMONTON - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume a ready-to-eat special combo because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes....More

Health at risk due to shoddy meat inspections, Nova Scotia auditor general says

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's auditor general says public health is at risk because the Agriculture Department is not adequately inspecting the province's slaughterhouses and meat processing plants....More

End-of-life documents not a big concern for boomers who say they feel young

WASHINGTON - Many baby boomers don't have end-of-life legal documents such as a living will — and some say it's because they feel healthy and young in their middle-age years and don't need to dwell on death. An Associated Press-LifeGoesStrong....More

Eat meat, Nova Scotia government says, despite warnings of poor inspections

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's agriculture minister says people should not be worried about eating contaminated meat despite warnings from the provincial auditor general that public health is at risk due to inadequate inspection of meat-packing plants and slaughterhouses....More

Don't wait too long to have children, new expert guideline warns women

TORONTO - New guidance from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is warning Canadian women against postponing pregnancy for too long....More

Alberta health minister says bill coming to give Health Quality Council teeth

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne says the province's Health Quality Council is getting some teeth. Horne says legislation will be introduced Monday to give council greater independence....More

German designer proves that milk does a body good - even when it's worn

HANNOVER, Germany - Wear Milk? Anke Domaske says why not. The 28-year-old German is the designer of an award-winning new textile made entirely from milk that's environmentally friendly as well as soothing to people with skin allergies....More

Expert panel urges decriminalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide

OTTAWA - A long-awaited experts' report on how Canada and Canadian families handle the end of life calls on the federal government to decriminalize euthanasia and assisted suicide....More

Edmonton father 'snapped' when autistic son was to be moved to a group home

EDMONTON - A man who killed himself and his autistic son was defeated when the provincial government insisted on moving the out-of-control child from a private facility to a group home....More

Edmonton father 'snapped' when autistic son was to be moved to a group home

EDMONTON - A man who killed himself and his autistic son was defeated when the provincial government insisted on moving the out-of-control child from a private facility to a group home....More

Drug raises good cholesterol, lowers bad; next test: does it cut heart attacks?

ORLANDO, Fla. - An experimental drug shows promise for raising HDL, or good cholesterol, which helps remove fats from the bloodstream. Doctors think raising good cholesterol could be the next frontier in fighting heart disease....More

Doctor tells inquiry autistic boy tried to smash head into car window

EDMONTON - A doctor testifying at an inquiry into the murder-suicide of a father and his autistic child says the boy had major behavioural problems. Jeffrey Bostick and his 11-year-old son, Jeremy, died of carbon monoxide poisoning in September 2009....More

Anesthesiologists should stop dispute so contract can be negotiated as usual:doc

VANCOUVER - The head of the B.C. Medical Association says the province's anesthesiologists should put a halt to their ongoing dispute with the government and let the organization negotiate a contract for them along with all doctors in the province....More

UK doctors call for ban on smoking in cars, even when no children are present

LONDON - The British Medical Association is calling on the government to ban smoking at all times in cars, a step that would go beyond regulations elsewhere. In research released on Wednesday, the group that represents U.K....More

Edmonton inquiry reviews murder-suicide of father and autistic son

EDMONTON - An Edmonton fatality inquiry is reviewing the murder-suicide of a father and his severely autistic child. Jeffrey Bostick and his 11-year-old son, Jeremy, died of carbon monoxide poisoning on Sept. 27, 2009....More

Costs of aging and government debt complicate feds' cost-cutting efforts: report

OTTAWA - The fiscal conundrum that experts have long warned of has arrived: rising government costs linked to aging and to a growing public debt are truncating Ottawa's ability to cut overall spending....More

Correction: Diabetes story

GENEVA - In a story Nov. 13 about global diabetes, The Associated Press erroneously reported the number of cases that the International Diabetes Federation predicts in 2030. The group predicts there will be 552 million cases of the disease, not 522 million cases....More

Coping with Parkinson's and breast cancer in her 40s: 'Most of Me' tells the story

TORONTO - It's difficult enough to be diagnosed with a disease like early-onset Parkinson's at the age of 43, but what if breast cancer is added to the mix just eight months later? That was the reality that Robyn Michele Levy had to confront about five years...More

B.C. to add three more vaccines for children starting in January

VICTORIA - The B.C. government is adding three more vaccines to its free childhood immunization program starting in January. One vaccine will target the rotavirus to help protect babies from diarrhea and vomiting, and infants born on or after Nov....More

522 million people could have diabetes by 2030, experts say many cases still preventable

GENEVA - The International Diabetes Federation predicts that one in 10 adults could have diabetes by 2030, according to their latest statistics....More

Previously conjoined US twins set to go home after successful separation surgery

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Twin sisters who had been joined at the chest are preparing to leave the hospital two weeks after surgery — each in their own car seat....More

Hockey official calls death of 16-year-old player hit by puck a freak accident

EDMONTON - The family of a young Edmonton hockey player who died after being hit in the neck with a puck has donated the youth's organs for transplant....More

Libs looking at lowering surgery fees, delisting outdated health services

TORONTO - The minority Liberals will try to reduce the fees for some surgeries as part of their plan to lower doctor salaries and manage health-care costs....More

Listeria alert for Deschamps, Fromagerie Marie Kade cheeses

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says some Deschamps and Fromagerie Marie Kade brand cheese products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes....More

New blood thinner helps heart attack survivors avoid a repeat, cuts risk of death, study finds

ORLANDO, Fla. - People recovering from a heart attack or severe chest pain are much less likely to suffer another heart-related problem or to die from one if they take a new blood-thinning drug along with standard anti-clotting medicines, a large study finds....More

Merck's anti-clotting drug flops in key trial aimed at preventing heart attacks, strokes

ORLANDO, Fla. - A blood thinner being developed by Merck has flopped in a major study aimed at preventing heart attacks, strokes and other problems in people who had suffered a heart attack or severe chest pain from clogged arteries....More

Evelyn Lauder, who made pink ubiquitous with breast cancer awareness, dies in NYC at 75

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Pink was Evelyn Lauder's colour. In her long career as an executive at cosmetics giant Estee Lauder Cos....More

Dying woman challenges Canada's assisted-suicide law 20 years after last attempt

VANCOUVER - It's been nearly 20 years since Canada's laws on assisted suicide have been challenged by a terminally ill person, and now a similar right-to-die case has thrust the issue back into the spotlight....More

Correction: Diabetes story

GENEVA - In a story Nov. 13 about global diabetes, The Associated Press erroneously reported the number of cases that the International Diabetes Federation predicts in 2030. The group predicts there will be 552 million cases of the disease, not 522 million cases....More

522 million people could have diabetes by 2030, experts say many cases still preventable

GENEVA - The International Diabetes Federation predicts that one in 10 adults could have diabetes by 2030, according to their latest statistics....More

Shigella cases tripled this year in Saskatchewan; doctors advise hand washing

REGINA - Health officials in Saskatchewan say cases of shigella have more than tripled this year. Deputy medical officer of health Dr. Saqib Shahab says normally there are between 10 to 15 cases of shigella a year....More

Restaurant association says fast food workers' poppies could pose risk

TORONTO - Fast food chains like McDonald's aren't wrong to ban employees from wearing poppies because the iconic flower could become a safety hazard, the association that represents Canadian restaurants said Thursday....More

Panel expected to say more children should get cholesterol tested before puberty

More children should be screened for high cholesterol before puberty, beyond those with a family history of problems, according to wide-ranging new guidelines expected from U.S. government-appointed experts who are trying to prevent heart disease later in life....More

Nova Scotia's aging hospitals getting $22 million in capital upgrades

HALIFAX - The government of Nova Scotia is jumping the gun on its spring budget by announcing $22 million in capital spending to upgrade aging health-care facilities....More

No painkillers please, we're British: UK rules make it tough for patients to get strong drugs

LONDON - In Britain, the popular U.S. painkiller OxyContin is considered similar to morphine and used sparingly. Vicodin isn't even licensed. And at most shops, remedies like ibuprofen are sold only in 16-pill packs....More

Five share $340,000 in holistic healer case that left woman a quadriplegic

RICHMOND, B.C. - Five B.C. residents, including a woman nearly killed by arsenic poisoning and left a quadriplegic, are sharing more than $340,000 as a result of a settlement involving a self-proclaimed holistic healer....More

Clean hospital linens in short supply in Saskatoon Health Region

SASKATOON - Clean hospital linens are in short supply in the Saskatoon Health Region because part of its central laundry has been shut down. The health region says a hoist carrying laundry bags fell from the ceiling last week....More

Australia ready to fight big tobacco in courts over plan to ban advertising on cigarette packs

CANBERRA, Australia - The Australian government said Thursday it is ready to fight big tobacco companies in court to enact the world's toughest laws on cigarette promotion — rules that would ban logos and other advertising on cigarette packs....More

EEG detects awareness in vegetative patients, can be taken to bedside: study

TORONTO - Researchers have discovered they can detect conscious awareness in some patients thought to be in a permanent vegetative state using an inexpensive EEG device that measures electrical activity in the brain....More

British study: Should clocks move forward so kids can play outside longer?

TORONTO - Now that clocks have been set back an hour in most parts of Canada and it's dark before dinnertime, a new British study on kids' physical activity might strike a chord with parents here....More

B.C. company recalls mussels over concerns of paralytic shellfish toxins

VANCOUVER - A British Columbia distributor of raw mussels is recalling its product due to concerns about paralytic shellfish toxins. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the Sawmill Bay Mussels, distributed by Walcan Seafood of Heriot Bay, B.C....More

Amnesiac's short-term memory works best on familiar faces like Paris Hilton

TORONTO - Gaps in short-term memory in people with amnesia are most noticeable when a person tries to recall new information that is unfamiliar, while information that is familiar because of repetition is more likely to be retained, a new study shows....More

'Medical home' concept growing, but Canada lags some other countries: report

TORONTO - Chronically and seriously ill adults who receive care through "medical home" practices are less likely to report medical errors, test duplication and gaps in co-ordinated care, a survey of patients in Canada and 10 other countries has found....More

Striking CAS workers to vote on new deal; 130 workers on strike since Oct. 17

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - Striking workers with the Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society vote today on a contract offer. Jennifer Smith, president of Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 334 says the 130 workers have been on strike since Oct. 17....More

No painkillers please, we're British: UK rules make it tough for patients to get strong drugs

LONDON - In Britain, the popular U.S. painkiller OxyContin is considered similar to morphine and used sparingly. Vicodin isn't even licensed. And at most shops, remedies like ibuprofen are sold only in 16-pill packs....More

Australia ready to fight big tobacco in courts over plan to ban advertising on cigarette packs

CANBERRA, Australia - The Australian government said Thursday it is ready to fight big tobacco companies in court to enact the world's toughest laws on cigarette promotion — rules that would ban logos and other advertising on cigarette packs....More

Hormone therapy plus radiation ups survival in aggressive prostate cancer: study

TORONTO - Men with prostate cancer that has spread to local surrounding tissues live longer and are less likely to die of the high-risk disease if treated with a combination of radiation and hormone therapy, rather than with the drug treatment alone, a study has found....More

Health officials apologize for flaws affecting up to 2,200 radiology patients

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Health officials in central Newfoundland have apologized for flawed radiology reports as they review almost 2,200 files to trace the source of the mishap....More

Health Canada reports 5 mix-ups involving the drugs Pradax and Plavix

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning of mix-ups caused by the similar-sounding names of two prescription drugs, Pradax and Plavix....More

Haiti rights group demands UN pay for cholera outbreak, citing negligence

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A human rights group said Tuesday it has filed claims with the United Nations seeking damages on behalf of more than 5,000 Haitian cholera victims and their families....More

At wife's behest, New York man drops 198 pounds in 10 months

FULTON, N.Y. - When Jay Wornick's wife said they both should lose some weight as a new year's resolution, he took up the challenge. Ten months later, he's almost 200 pounds lighter. Wornick tells the Post-Standard of Syracuse that he weighed 366 pounds Jan....More

Ottawa agrees to study veterans' health after ex-soldier calls off hunger strike

LEVIS, Que. - The federal government will create a new committee to study veterans' health in the wake of a hunger strike by an ex-soldier who insists he was contaminated by depleted uranium while serving in Bosnia....More

B.C. company recalls mussels over concerns of paralytic shellfish toxins

VANCOUVER - A British Columbia distributor of raw mussels is recalling its product due to concerns about paralytic shellfish toxins. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the Sawmill Bay Mussels, distributed by Walcan Seafood of Heriot Bay, B.C....More

'Medical home' concept growing, but Canada lags some other countries: report

TORONTO - Chronically and seriously ill adults who receive care through "medical home" practices are less likely to report medical errors, test duplication and gaps in co-ordinated care, a survey of patients in Canada and 10 other countries has found....More

Imperfect cancer screenings spark angst over how much and who they help

WASHINGTON - It turns out that catching cancer early is not always as important as has been thought. Some tumours are too slow-growing to ever threaten your life. Some are so aggressive that finding them early does not make much difference....More

Hunger strike continues after 'poisoned' vet rejects offer for treatment

LEVIS, Que. - A military vet who began a hunger strike on Saturday still hasn't had any food after rejecting an offer for treatment from Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney....More

Entrepreneurs seeking exercise create website to bring together training mobs

MONTREAL - David Sciacca wants to get you up and moving. And he and his partners have come up with a fast, easy — and free or fairly cheap — way to do it. They started trainingmobs....More

Breast reconstruction rate in Canada appears to lag other countries: researchers

TORONTO - Only a small percentage of Canadian women appear to opt for breast reconstruction following mastectomy, despite the safety of the procedure and its positive effects on a patient's self-esteem, researchers say....More

Atlantic Lottery studying interactive television to boost sales, draw gamblers

HALIFAX - The Crown corporation that manages gaming in Atlantic Canada is studying how it can use interactive television as it examines new ways for gamblers to wager money. The Atlantic Lottery Corp....More

At home with Claude: a military veteran's life in the shipping container

MONTREAL - He steps over piles of trash, past the dog wolfing kibble off the floor, across his tattered mattress and into the perpetual darkness at the back of the shipping container....More

Toronto researchers see possible link between meth use and schizophrenia

TORONTO - Researchers have found a possible link between heavy use of methamphetamines and schizophrenia....More

Poisoned vet on hunger strike collapses briefly, during third day of protest

LEVIS, Que. - A military veteran on a hunger strike collapsed momentarily during the third day of his protest against the federal government Monday....More

CFIA:Some Tifco cheese products may contain Listeria

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning that certain Tifco brand Queso Panela (Latino Cheese) products may be contaminated with Listeria bacteria. The products were sold in Ontario in 420 gram and 1....More

CFIA issues salmonella alert for pine nuts

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says some David Roberts brand and Sysco brand pine nuts may be contaminated with Salmonella....More

Veterans affairs minister offers treatment to hunger striking vet

LEVIS, Que. - Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney met on Sunday with a hunger-striking vet who is protesting the way the federal government has handled his case....More

Seniors, experts decry lack of financial help for implant denture 'necessity'

TORONTO - Many Canadian seniors are suffering the health and social effects of tooth loss because they can't afford even the expert-agreed minimum standard of care when it comes to false teeth....More

QuickFacts about edentulous Canadians

TORONTO - Many Canadians are edentulous but cannot afford workable false teeth. Some facts: 6.4%: Adults (aged 20 to 79) with no natural teeth. 22.3%: Men (aged 60 to 79) with no natural teeth. 21....More

'Poisoned' veteran begins hunger strike outside minister's office

LEVIS, Que. - Armed with little more than a sleeping bag and a few pillows, a former soldier who says he was poisoned while serving overseas started a hunger strike on Saturday outside the riding office of Canada's veterans affairs minister....More

Hunger strike continues after 'poisoned' vet rejects offer for treatment

LEVIS, Que. - A military vet who began a hunger strike on Saturday still hasn't had any food after rejecting an offer for treatment from Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney....More

At home with Claude: a military veteran's life in the shipping container

MONTREAL - He steps over piles of trash, past the dog wolfing kibble off the floor, across his tattered mattress and into the perpetual darkness at the back of the shipping container....More

Alberta First Nation turns to bottled water over contamination concerns

FORT MCKAY, Alta. - An aboriginal community in northern Alberta is drinking bottled water because of concerns the municipal supply is contaminated....More

Premier promises legislation this fall for fixed election date in Alberta

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Alison Redford says proposed legislation on a fixed date for provincial elections will be introduced in the legislature this fall....More

Newfoundland health board reviewing diagnostic imaging done at Gander hospital

GANDER, N.L. - A Newfoundland health board is investigating some diagnostic imaging reports done at a Gander hospital after some were found to be based on earlier tests and not the most recent one....More

India seems to be on track to stop polio transmission, new CDC report says

A new report says it seems likely India is now polio-free, a first for a nation that has been one of the last strongholds for the tenacious poliovirus....More

Hunger-striking vet says Ottawa never disclosed his positive uranium tests

MONTREAL - A former soldier battling a series of health problems says the Canadian Forces failed to inform him that medical tests showed he was carrying an unusually high level of uranium....More

Health-care costs doubled in last decade; swelling ranks of doctors drive rise

TORONTO - Health-care costs in Canada doubled over the past decade and will cross the $200 billion mark this year, a report released Thursday reveals....More

Health group says physical therapists not paid enough in Saskatchewan

SASKATOON - A labour group representing Saskatchewan health workers says physical therapists aren't paid enough....More

Not just for the wealthy: UK set to let any pregnant woman get C-section on demand for free

LONDON - Pregnant women in Britain, where the government provides free health care, may soon be able to get a cesarean section on demand thanks to a rule change that critics describe as the health system caving into the "too posh to push" crowd....More

FDA approves high-tech screening device to help spot early-stage skin cancer

WASHINGTON - Dermatologists will soon get some high-tech help deciding which suspicious-looking moles should be removed and checked for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The U.S....More

Democrats urge baseball test for human growth hormone and ban chewing tobacco

WASHINGTON - Two House Democrats are urging Major League Baseball and the players union to implement testing for human growth hormone and ban chewing tobacco by players in uniform and in public view. Reps....More

Colgate-Palmolive recalls electric toothbrushes after reports some 'exploded'

TORONTO - Colgate-Palmolive is recalling a battery-operated electric toothbrush after receiving reports the devices exploded in the hands of some users....More

Butt out: smoking banned in some areas of Winnipeg's biggest park

WINNIPEG - Winnipeg's biggest park is restricting smoking in some areas. Smokers are no longer being allowed to light up in Assiniboine Park's sculpture garden and English garden....More

Baby can't wait for hospital birth; enters world on side of Calgary road

CALGARY - A couple in southern Alberta had to keep their collective cool when their unborn daughter decided to enter the world on a busy Calgary street during the morning rush hour....More

Alberta reviewing pathology tests done in the last year at Calgary hospital

CALGARY - The Health Quality Council of Alberta is reviewing the handling of pathology tests done at Rockyview Hospital in Calgary. President and CEO Dr....More

Alberta First Nation turns to bottled water over contamination concerns

FORT MCKAY, Alta. - An aboriginal community in northern Alberta is drinking bottled water because of concerns the municipal supply is contaminated....More

Hunger-striking vet says Ottawa never disclosed his positive uranium tests

MONTREAL - A former soldier battling a series of health problems says the Canadian Forces failed to inform him that medical tests showed he was carrying an unusually high level of uranium....More

Once 'paralyzed by self-doubt,' Bob Rae gets national mental-health award

OTTAWA - Interim Liberal leader Bob Rae says he was saddled with debilitating anxiety and depression for the better part of a year when he was 24, but he wants other victims of mental illness to know he found a way out of his predicament....More

Nurses at Nova Scotia's largest health unit awarded wage hike by arbitrator

HALIFAX - About 2,500 nurses who work at Nova Scotia's largest health authority have been awarded wage increases by an arbitrator that will add millions to the province's health budget....More

Food banks usage stuck at recessionary levels in 2011: national study

OTTAWA - The number of people using food banks in Canada remains near record highs, two years after the end of the last recession....More

Fatal overdoses from painkillers triple in decade; 1 in 20 Americans report abuse: CDC

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The number of overdose deaths from powerful painkillers more than tripled over a decade, the government reported Tuesday — a trend that a U.S. health official called an epidemic, but one that can be stopped....More

Candrive study tracks senior drivers to help determine who should be on road

MONTREAL - So when, exactly, should elderly drivers hang up their car keys? Right now, there's no national standard for evaluating them, something researchers at Candrive, a program drawing on scientists from 10 Canadian universities, hope to help fix....More

Cancer leading causes of death in all provinces for the first time: StatsCan

OTTAWA - A new report says cancer and heart disease were responsible for just over half of Canada's 238,617 deaths in 2008. And Statistics Canada reports cancer was the leading cause of death in every province and territory for the first time....More

Canada lags behind industrialized nations in child well-being: report

OTTAWA - A new report says too many Canadian children still face unnecessary obstacles to safe and healthy development despite some progress in other areas....More

Canada hopes to have edge over competitors with research at expanded isotope lab

VANCOUVER - Construction has begun to expand a Vancouver lab where scientists will try to find new ways to solve the global shortage of medical isotopes used to treat and diagnose diseases such as cancer and heart disease....More

US agency backs Merck cholesterol drug to lower heart problems in kidney disease patients

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says Merck's cholesterol drug Vytorin helps reduce heart attack, stroke and related problems in patients with kidney disease, a potential new use for the blockbuster drug....More

Study in Wash. state suggests more violence among kids of combat veterans

ATLANTA - A new study suggests that when parents are deployed in the military, their children are more than twice as likely to carry a weapon, join a gang or be involved in fights. And that includes the daughters....More

Study identifies safety issues for hospital patients who go outside to smoke

TORONTO - Hospitals across Canada have strict no-smoking policies, but how are patients addicted to nicotine faring in these circumstances? Researchers tried to find some answers by questioning patients, health-care professionals and other staff at two large...More

Okla. proposal to make cold tablets prescription-only sets up police, drug lobby clash

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma authorities have been at the forefront of the nation's battle against methamphetamine, but they will soon have a tough new opponent: a politically connected, well-heeled pharmaceutical industry....More

Obama's order to tackle drug shortages small step in complex, growing problem

WASHINGTON - Unprecedented drug shortages are threatening the lives of cancer patients and other seriously ill people, and the Obama administration's plan to tackle them is but a small step toward solving a complex problem....More

Judge upholds decision to deny public funding for marijuana growing equipment

AMHERST, N.S. - The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia has upheld a provincial decision to deny a man public funding for equipment to grow medical marijuana....More

When it comes to kids with colds, only proven cure is time, doctors say

TORONTO - With cold and flu season starting, parents of young children can expect to face plenty of runny noses, bleary eyes and persistent coughs over the next few months....More

Food banks usage stuck at recessionary levels in 2011: national study

OTTAWA - The number of people using food banks in Canada remains near record highs, two years after the end of the last recession....More