Matthews promises health action plan today in speech to Toronto Board of Trade

TORONTO - Health Minister Deb Matthews is expected to outline some of the Liberal government's plans to transform Ontario's health-care system during a speech in Toronto today....More

Liberals want more medical procedures done in clinics instead of hospitals

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government wants more routine medical procedures performed in not-for-profit clinics instead of in more expensive hospitals, Health Minister Deb Matthews announced Monday....More

Excessive dose of antidepressant Celexa can cause heart problems: Health Canada

TORONTO - Consumers should avoid taking a daily dose of the antidepressant Celexa in excess of 40 milligrams, as higher doses can cause abnormal heart rhythms, the drug's Canadian distributor says....More

Carter Center gets $40 million pledge to wipe out Guinea worm disease

ATLANTA - The Carter Center on Monday announced it received $40 million in donations to help fuel its mission to eradicate Guinea worm disease, a debilitating parasite that once plagued millions of people across the developing world. The U.S....More

Boy, 4, treated for hypothermia, dehydration after being left on school bus

LAC LA BICHE, Alta. - A school bus driver has been suspended indefinitely after a four-year-old boy was left on a bus for nearly seven hours north of Edmonton....More

Alberta's sexually transmitted infection rate falls in 2010: report

EDMONTON - Alberta has arrested its skyrocketing rate of sexually transmitted infections, new statistics released Monday suggest. But the province's chief medical officer says more work needs to be done. "The battle is not won yet," Dr....More

Alberta bolsters safety rules after disabled man dies from scalding in bath

CALGARY - Alberta is bringing in new safety standards after a mute, severely disabled man in government care died from scalding injuries he suffered while being bathed....More

7th death linked to ecstasy tainted with PMMA in Calgary; 2 in hospital

CALGARY - A seventh person has died in the Calgary area from taking tainted ecstasy. Tests results released Monday reveal a young man found dead on the SAIT campus earlier this month had PMMA, a toxic additive, in his system....More

Saputo recalls a milk product that may contain a cleaning solution

MONTREAL - Saputo is recalling one of its milk products sold in Ontario and Aylmer, Quebec because it may contain a cleaning solution....More

Research teams making progress collecting critical data on CCSVI: MS society

TORONTO - Research teams investigating a potential and hotly debated cause of MS say they are making good progress toward providing essential data that will help to design a clinical trial of a proposed treatment for the disease. The seven Canadian and U.S....More

Public interest groups say Liberals should consult before making major cuts

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberals are being called undemocratic "control freaks" by public interest groups angry that people are not being consulted about cuts to government services to trim the $16-billion deficit....More

Double take: Pink and Green Ribbon campaign ties breast health to environment

VANCOUVER - Julie Budgen turned pale when she first spotted the Pink Ribbon logo on packaging for chemical-laced household cleansers and candy spiked with artificial colours....More

Canada still has a way to go in ending barriers for disabled people: advocates

TORONTO - Advocates say Canadians and their governments must take action to tear down barriers that hurt people with disabilities. The plea came Friday with the Toronto launch of a report by the World Health Organization and World Bank....More

Undeclared milk and wheat in Jelly Belly Christmas Deluxe Mix: CFIA

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning people with allergies to milk and wheat not to consume Jelly Belly Christmas Deluxe Mix. The affected product contains milk and wheat which are not declared on the label....More

CFIA orders Bin Bin Snow Rice Crackers recall due to undeclared egg

OTTAWA - Bin Bin brand Snow Rice Crackers are being recalled because they may contain egg that's not declared on the label....More

Matthews promises health action plan today in speech to Toronto Board of Trade

TORONTO - Health Minister Deb Matthews is expected to outline some of the Liberal government's plans to transform Ontario's health-care system during a speech in Toronto today....More

Researchers hope cardiac stem cell transplants may help heart failure patients

TORONTO - Doctors have performed Ontario's first cardiac stem cell transplant using cells from the patient's own bone marrow....More

Police: Former top executive of suspect breast-implant company arrested in SE France

PARIS - Police in southeast France on Thursday arrested the former head of a French company at the centre of a breast implant scandal affecting tens of thousands of women worldwide, a police official said....More

Oral cancer virus affects 7 per cent in U.S., also linked to cervical cancer: study

CHICAGO - About 16 million Americans have oral HPV, a sexually transmitted virus more commonly linked with cervical cancer that also can cause mouth cancer, according to the first nationwide estimate....More

Older adults may also be vulnerable to new swine influenza virus, study suggests

TORONTO - There may be a lot more vulnerability in the population to a new swine influenza virus than was first thought, new Canadian research suggests....More

Health minister says caesarean sections will not be delisted by OHIP

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government scrambled Thursday to clarify it will not force pregnant women to pay for caesarean sections, after suggesting earlier this week that the procedure would no longer be covered by medicare....More

Hamilton paramedics have essential service deal, disputes to go to arbitration

HAMILTON - It's being called a "made in Hamilton solution." Paramedics and civic officials in Hamilton have reached an essential service agreement....More

UNICEF issues appeal to aid starving kids, urges Canadians to contribute

OTTAWA - The head of UNICEF's Canadian branch is urging his country to do more to help starving children in Africa....More

Saputo recalls a milk product that may contain a cleaning solution

MONTREAL - Saputo is recalling one of its milk products sold in Ontario and Aylmer, Quebec because it may contain a cleaning solution....More

School lunches in US to have less sodium, more whole grains, fruits, veggies

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The first major nutritional overhaul of school meals in the U.S....More

Researcher at heart of bird flu studies controversy reveals details of his findings

TORONTO - A scientist at the centre of a raging controversy over bird flu transmission studies has broken his silence, in the process revealing information about his study that has not been made public previously....More

Regina health region report says senior and aboriginal populations are growing

REGINA - The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region has released a five-year report outlining changes in the region's demographics. It says that in the last 14 years the overall population has grown 2.7 per cent....More

ORNGE air ambulance service slashes 18 jobs to cut costs: reports

TORONTO - ORNGE has reportedly slashed 18 jobs effective immediately. According to media reports, the province's air ambulance service says it's an effort to reduce costs....More

Matthews says more Ontario health services will be delisted to save costs

TORONTO - Caesarean sections could be one of the services delisted from medicare by the Ontario government as it looks to cut costs and trim a $16-billion deficit, Health Minister Deb Matthews suggested Wednesday....More

All in their heads? CDC finds no physical cause for strange creepy-crawly affliction

ATLANTA - Imagine having the feeling that tiny bugs are crawling on your body, that you have oozing sores and mysterious fibers sprouting from your skin....More

Study: Heart attack deaths in England fall by half, partly due to better drugs and prevention

LONDON - The death rate from heart attacks in England has dropped by half in the last decade, a new study concludes. British researchers examined data from more than 840,000 people who had heart attacks between 2002 and 2010....More

Police: Former top executive of suspect breast-implant company arrested in SE France

PARIS - Police in southeast France on Thursday arrested the former head of a French company at the centre of a breast implant scandal affecting tens of thousands of women worldwide, a police official said....More

New TV show, book shed light on obesity, diabetes among chefs and other kitchen pros

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Paula Deen's diabetes revelation pretty much sums it up: Kitchen pros at all levels struggle with obesity and its dangerous aftertaste in the high-pressure, high-calorie world of food....More

Improve instructions for patients being discharged from Emergency, study urges

TORONTO - Patients who are discharged from a hospital emergency department sometimes have a poor understanding of how they should care for themselves once they get home, says a new review of more than 50 studies....More

Heartburn drugs don't help children's hard-to-control asthma: study

CHICAGO - An acid reflux drug often used for hard-to-treat asthma doesn't help children with the breathing disease and may cause side effects, a study in 300 children found....More

Gentlemen, roll up your sleeves: HPV vaccine recommended for boys

TORONTO - A federally appointed panel of experts has endorsed use of HPV vaccine in males in Canada, potentially opening the door to wider use of the vaccine in boys and young men....More

For diabetics, amputations of feet and legs have decreased by more than half, says CDC study

ATLANTA - Foot and leg amputations were once a fairly common fate for diabetics, but new government research shows a dramatic decline in limbs lost to the disease, probably due to better treatments....More

Doctors successfully transplant heart dropped in street while being rushed to hospital

MEXICO CITY - A heart that was dropped on the ground while being transported to a hospital has been successfully transplanted into a 28-year-old hair stylist. Dr....More

California reports no whooping cough deaths last year after 2010 epidemic

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - No Californian died from whooping cough in 2011, the first year since 1991 that there have been no deaths in the state from the highly infectious illness....More

ORNGE air ambulance service slashes 18 jobs to cut costs: reports

TORONTO - ORNGE has reportedly slashed 18 jobs effective immediately. According to media reports, the province's air ambulance service says it's an effort to reduce costs....More

Patient safety is key as gastroenterology association releases guidelines

OAKVILLE, Ont. - Canada's gastroenterologists have new guidelines on safety and quality indicators to help with the more than 1.6 million procedures performed each year, their association announced Monday....More

Obese teens more likely to be perpetrators and victims of bullying, study finds

KINGSTON, Ont. - Obese teens are on both sides of the bullying divide with a greater likelihood of being victims and perpetrators compared to their peers, a new study suggests....More

Health Canada recalls kids jewelry items due to possible lead, cadmium content

OTTAWA - Health Canada is recalling a range of children's rings, anklets, bracelets and necklaces because the products may contain excessive levels of lead and cadmium....More

Health Canada issues new warning for blood pressure drugs Rasilez, Rasilez HCT

OTTAWA - Health Canada is alerting consumers that the blood pressure medications Rasilez and Rasilez HCT should not be used by people with Type 2 diabetes who are also taking other blood pressure drugs....More

Group seeks funds for birthing centre project, says it could save province money

TORONTO - The Association of Ontario Midwives is leading a social media campaign urging the province to fund a birth centre pilot project. The association says more than 6,500 e-postcards have been sent to Premier Dalton McGuinty advocating for birth centres....More

Drug can delay progression of low-risk prostate cancer, lower men's anxiety: study

TORONTO - A class of drug long used to treat prostate enlargement appears to have benefits for men diagnosed with low-risk, localized prostate cancer — delaying disease progression and reducing patients' anxiety, a Canadian-led international study has found....More

Doctors groups asking if routine tests may be more habit than medical necessity

WASHINGTON - Recent headlines offered a fresh example of how the health-care system subjects people to too many medical tests — this time research showing millions of older women don't need their bones checked for osteoporosis nearly so often....More

British man with locked-in syndrome asks high court for the right to euthanasia

LONDON - Former rugby player Tony Nicklinson had a high-flying job as a corporate manager in Dubai, where he went skydiving and bridge-climbing in his free time. Seven years ago, he suffered a paralyzing stroke....More

Irreversible brain damage that led to Burke's death a result of heart stopping: doctors

TORONTO - The artery that ruptured when freestyle skier Sarah Burke fell during a training run is one of the most critical blood vessels in the body, feeding oxygen-rich blood to the brain stem, neurosurgeons say....More

Head protection for tobogganing: Ottawa lab puts children's helmets to the test

TORONTO - Parents who take their youngsters tobogganing might want to top them off with a hockey helmet based on new test results of protective headgear for winter activities....More

Flu scientists halt research on lab-made viruses for 60 days to foster talks

Leading international influenza scientists took a time out Friday, volunteering to observe a 60-day moratorium on research into controversial bird flu transmission studies....More

Baby born weighing 9.5 oz is discharged from Los Angeles hospital Hollywood-style

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - One of the world's smallest surviving babies was discharged Friday from the hospital where she spent nearly five months in an incubator — but not before getting the Hollywood treatment....More

Baby born weighing 9.5 oz is discharged from Los Angeles hospital Hollywood-style

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - One of the world's smallest surviving babies was discharged Friday from the hospital where she spent nearly five months in an incubator — but not before getting the Hollywood treatment....More

Small meeting in mid-Feb to take first crack at bird flu research impasse: WHO

A small — in relative terms — group of technical experts will be invited to Geneva in mid-February to begin the difficult task of trying to break an impasse arising from the proposed publication of controversial bird flu research, the World Health Organization...More

CFIA warns of undeclared allergens in Kettleman's Bagel baked goods

OTTAWA - A variety of Kettleman's Bagel Co. baked goods are being recalled because they may contain milk, soy or sulphites not listed on the label. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the products were distributed in the Ottawa area....More

Baby born weighing 9.5 oz is discharged from Los Angeles hospital Hollywood-style

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - One of the world's smallest surviving babies is discharged from the hospital where she spent nearly five months in an incubator — but not before getting the Hollywood treatment....More

If you can climb stairs, you can have sex, says AMA guidance for heart patients

CHICAGO - Good news: Sex is safe for most heart patients. If you're healthy enough to walk up two flights of stairs without chest pain or gasping for breath, you can have a love life....More

Government mum on reports that it's probing deaths involving ORNGE

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty is pleading for patience while his government investigates troubling reports that continue to swirl around ORNGE, including three deaths involving Ontario's air ambulance service....More

Feds to help sports groups fight concussions with better information

OTTAWA - The federal government will spend $1.5 million to help reduce concussions in kid's sports....More

Disabilities report author is concerned that many kids have 1 or no friends

TORONTO - Social interaction and meaningful relationships are hard to come by for children and young adults with certain disabilities, says the author of a study of families in three Canadian cities....More

Devil's in the details of Liberal party proposal to legalize and regulate pot

OTTAWA - If Liberals are serious about presenting voters with a credible plan to legalize and regulate cannabis in the next federal election, they have a lot of work to do....More

World's third smallest surviving baby to be discharged from US hospital

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - One of the world's smallest surviving babies is headed home. Melinda Star Guido weighed only 9 1/2 ounces (.2 kilograms) at birth— less than a can of soda....More

Staff fired after New Brunswick government finds cases of abuse at care homes

Eleven care home workers in New Brunswick have been fired or left their jobs over the past two years after various violations were found including inappropriate sexual conduct and a blow to a resident's face, provincial government records say....More

Sexual abuse in New Brunswick seniors home sign of neglected problem: experts

Jean-Paul Mazerolle runs a nursing home in New Brunswick that spent eight weeks last year trying to end the sexual touching of elderly residents by four men with Alzheimer's disease, yet he's doubtful the home has put an end to the problem....More

Higher abortion rates in countries where it's illegal, almost half unsafe: study

LONDON - Abortion rates are higher in countries where the procedure is illegal and nearly half of all abortions worldwide are unsafe, with the vast majority in developing countries, a new study concludes....More

Free nicotine patches, gum to Ontario smokers being treated for other addictions

TORONTO - Ontario will spend $4.5 million over the next three years to help nearly 23,000 smokers in addiction-treatment programs quit....More

Celeb chef Paula Deen's revelation of diabetes: foodies, health experts weigh in

TORONTO - The food world is weighing in after hearing that celebrity TV chef Paula Deen has Type 2 diabetes yet continued to espouse the use of unhealthy ingredients on her shows and in her restaurants while remaining mum about her condition....More

Cancer rates rising as population ages and screening, treatments improve: study

OTTAWA - A Statistics Canada study says the five-year prevalence rate for cancer rose 2.1 per cent a year between 1997 and 2008....More

Cancer prevalence rates up, reflecting aging population but also more survivors

TORONTO - While more Canadians are being diagnosed with cancer due in part to the aging population, more are surviving the disease over time, a Statistics Canada study on cancer prevalence has found....More

Cancer prevalence rates up, reflecting aging population but also more survivors

TORONTO - While more people are being diagnosed with cancer due in part to the aging population, more are also surviving the disease for longer and altering the picture of cancer in Canada, a Statistics Canada study suggests....More

Canadian Medical Association appoints new editor of country's top medical journal

TORONTO - The Canadian Medical Association has appointed a new editor-in-chief for Canada's leading general medicine journal. Dr....More

Loblaws recalls 8 brands of infant cereal due to rancid odour

Loblaws is recalling eight varieties of infant cereals under the President's Choice Brand label because they may have an "unpleasant rancid odour....More

New MMA drug-testing plan useless says Canadian doping expert Dick Pound

The Ultimate Fighting Championship and Strikeforce announced on Tuesday that all athletes will be tested for performance enhancing drugs before they sign contracts, something a Canadian expert on testing suggests is useless. The two U.S....More

High-dose caffeine safe, lowers risk of motor disorders in preemies: study

TORONTO - A high-dose jolt of java in the neonatal unit is safe and helps lower the risk premature babies — the tiniest of the tiny — will develop cerebral palsy and other motor function disabilities, a new report from an ongoing study shows....More

Health Canada: recall of toy wagons, trikes and wheelbarrows over barium concerns

Health Canada has posted a recall notice for some toy wagons, tricycles and wheelbarrows after testing found that the coating on the Ertl-brand products contained barium levels that exceed the allowable amount under Canada's Toy Regulations....More

Former pediatrician at Edmonton hospital guilty of sexually assaulting boys

EDMONTON - A former pediatrician-in-training at Edmonton's Stollery Children's Hospital has been found guilty of sex-related offences against young boys. Javier Cortes, 33, was accused of sexually assaulting a pair of boys under the age of 16 back in 2009....More

Draft U.S. government report sets goal for Alzheimer's disease

WASHINGTON - The U.S. government is setting what it calls an ambitious goal for Alzheimer's disease: Development of effective ways to treat and prevent the mind-destroying illness by 2025....More

Doctor says Regina hospitals backlogged with patients have cancelled surgeries

REGINA - Some patients in the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region are reporting their surgeries have been cancelled. Senior medical officer Dr. Joy Dobson says four surgeries were cancelled yesterday and another four were cancelled for today....More

5,600-plus Canadians seriously hurt in snow sports; skiing and snowboarding top list

TORONTO - Canadians may be a winter-hardy lot overall, but thousands end up in hospital each year after breaking bones on the ski slope or snowboard run, sustaining a concussion from a hit on the hockey rink or suffering multiple injuries in snowmobile crashes....More

NJ parents say mentally disabled girl, 3, denied transplant; experts say situation is complex

PHILADELPHIA - The parents of a 3-year-old New Jersey girl say she's being denied a kidney transplant because of her mental disabilities, but experts caution the situation may be much more complex....More

Ecstasy probed in death of 16-year-old BC boy; may be latest in string of deaths

VANCOUVER - Only one day after British Columbia's coroner warned the public a tainted batch of the illegal drug ecstasy has recently killed ten people in two provinces, a 16-year-old boy may have become its latest victim. The B.C....More

Doctor says Regina hospitals backlogged with patients waiting for tests

REGINA - Regina hospital staff are continuing to hold emergency meetings on the health region’s chronic overcrowding problems. Senior medical officer Dr....More

Doctor says new eardrum perforation treatment will clear long waiting lists

MONTREAL - Benjamin Cote is enjoying the everyday sounds of life a lot more since he was treated for a perforated eardrum using a revolutionary technique developed by a Montreal doctor....More

Cost of prescription drugs a deterrent for almost 1 in 10 Canadians: survey

TORONTO - A new survey suggests almost one in 10 Canadians don't always fill a prescription because of the cost. The findings, based on the 2007 Canada Community Health Survey, are reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal....More

Babies don't just listen, they try lip-reading while turning babble into words

WASHINGTON - Babies don't learn to talk just from hearing sounds. New research suggests they're lip-readers too....More

'Totally drug-resistant' tuberculosis found in India; more cases likely undetected globally

Indian doctors have reported the country's first cases of "totally drug-resistant tuberculosis," a long-feared and virtually untreatable form of the killer lung disease. It's not the first time highly resistant cases like this have been seen....More

Put a lid on it: Pediatricians say all skiers, boarders should wear helmets

TORONTO - Canada's pediatricians want skiers and snowboarders of all ages to wear helmets....More

Draft government report sets goal for Alzheimer's: Effective ways to treat, prevent it by 2025

WASHINGTON - The government is setting what it calls an ambitious goal for Alzheimer's disease: Development of effective ways to treat and prevent the mind-destroying illness by 2025....More

Cape Breton hospital reports two C. difficile deaths bringing total to four

SYDNEY, N.S. - The Cape Breton District Health Authority says two more patients have died as a result of a C. difficile outbreak. That brings the total to four after two people died of the infection last week at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney....More

Canadian Nurses Association upset U.S. group chosen to provide entry exams

TORONTO - The Canadian Nurses Association wants the entry exam for nurses to be Canadian-made and Canadian-owned, not American. The Canadian association and its subsidiary Assessment Strategies Inc....More

B.C. woman furious at Facebook after site removes breastfeeding photos

VANCOUVER - A Facebook representative has apologized to a Vancouver woman who was furious at Facebook for removing breastfeeding photos she had posted on the social networking site....More

WHO will take a role in solving issued raised by bird flu studies controversy

The World Health Organization says it will take a role in helping sort through an international scientific controversy over two bird flu studies that the U.S. government deemed too dangerous to publish in full....More

Health-care funding edict splits Canada in two as premiers meet in Victoria

VICTORIA - A tour of a new, ultra-modern patient-care centre in Victoria — with its smart beds, fresh air ducts and healing gardens — had Canada's premiers praising patient-care innovations Sunday, while resolving to push Ottawa on health-care funding, especially...More

Dozens ill from suspected norovirus at student journalism conference in B.C.

VICTORIA - Several dozen young adults fell ill with suspected norovirus at a student journalism conference in Victoria, the local health authority said Sunday....More

Premiers want better health deal, especially for seniors

VICTORIA - Canada's premiers appeared determined to push Ottawa to change federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's take-it-or-leave-it plans for health transfer payments, especially when it comes including funds for the elderly....More

'Totally drug-resistant' tuberculosis found in India; more cases likely undetected globally

Indian doctors have reported the country's first cases of "totally drug-resistant tuberculosis," a long-feared and virtually untreatable form of the killer lung disease. It's not the first time highly resistant cases like this have been seen....More

Health transfers plan strengthens Ottawa but hurts provinces: budget officer

OTTAWA - Parliament's budget watchdog says the new health-care funding formula will slowly reduce Ottawa's support for medicare, but it will also put the federal government on a solid fiscal footing for the future....More

Health groups seek clarity and leadership to rescue and revive medicare

OTTAWA - A coalition of health associations says federal and provincial leaders need to confront the deterioration in the health-care system, clarify their roles and then get to work fixing things....More

Ecstasy cut with new chemical linked to 5 deaths in Calgary, at least 1 in B.C.

VANCOUVER - All 16 deaths from ecstasy overdoses in British Columbia last year will be examined by the coroner's office to determine whether some were caused by a relatively unknown chemical cut into the drug....More

Criteria for Saskatchewan MS patients to be part of U.S. liberation therapy trial

REGINA - Premier Brad Wall has announced that multiple sclerosis patients in Saskatchewan can apply to take part in a clinical trial of so-called liberation therapy in the United States. Deadline for applications is Feb. 24....More

B.C. woman furious at Facebook after site removes breastfeeding photos

VANCOUVER - A Vancouver woman is furious at Facebook after the company removed breastfeeding photos she posted on the social networking site....More

Antidepressants in late pregnancy may doubt rate of rare condition in babies

TORONTO - A large new study suggests babies are at higher risk of developing a dangerous condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension if they are born to women who take widely used antidepressants late in their pregnancies....More

Ontario seniors 80 and older can renew their health cards by mail

TORONTO - Ontario's most senior seniors will be able to renew their health cards without lining up with everyone else. The Liberal government is going to allow people aged 80 and over to renew their health cards through the mail....More

B.C. woman furious at Facebook after site removes breastfeeding photos

VANCOUVER - A Facebook representative has apologized to a Vancouver woman who was furious at Facebook for removing breastfeeding photos she had posted on the social networking site....More

Ikea recalls faulty belt on high chairs; open unexpectedly when in use

TORONTO - Ikea is recalling the belts from a type of high chair it sold in Canada and the United States. Health Canada says the belts have been found to open unexpectedly while in use, creating a fall hazard....More

Couple says defective recalled Children's Tylenol killed 2-year-old son; J&J disputes that

TRENTON, N.J. - A couple is suing Johnson & Johnson, alleging their toddler son was killed after taking defective Children's Tylenol from a batch that had been recalled — part of the company's continuing string of recalls of drugs and medical devices....More

Two people with C. difficile bacteria die at Cape Breton hospital

SYDNEY, N.S. - Officials with the Cape Breton Regional Health Authority say two people with C. difficile have died in hospital....More

CP Exclusive: Ontario slams Kent over concerns about coal emissions

TORONTO - Ontario is warning the federal Conservatives not to retreat from plans to create national regulations governing coal-fired power plants....More

Court rules Ontario $50-billion lawsuit against tobacco companies can proceed

TORONTO - The Ontario government has scored a victory in its ongoing battle to recoup $50 billion in health-care costs from tobacco companies....More

2nd C. difficile patient dies after outbreak declared at Niagara Falls hospital

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. - A second patient associated with a C. difficile outbreak at Greater Niagara General Hospital has died. The Niagara Health System says the patient who died Wednesday had tested positive for hospital-associated C. difficile....More

Senator warns FDA on danger of super painkillers now under review

ALBANY, N.Y. - Following fatal shootings in two New York pharmacy robberies, a U.S. senator is warning that a new batch of "super painkillers" now under review could force repeats of recent violent robberies that left six people dead....More

A Canada with no health accord? Provinces grapple with the possibilities

OTTAWA - The provinces are grappling with the real possibility that they may soon be delivering health services without the guidance of a formal, national health care accord, The Canadian Press has learned....More

U.S. proposes regulating face, hand transplants like kidneys, other organs

The U.S. government wants to start regulating face and hand transplants just as it does now with kidneys, hearts and other organs, with waiting lists, a nationwide system to match and distribute body parts and donor testing to prevent deadly infections....More

U.K. experts say assisted suicide possible under strict criteria

LONDON - An independent panel of experts in the U.K. says there is a strong case for changing British law to help terminally ill people die....More

Stem cells in eyes offer hope for reversing leading cause of blindness in seniors

TORONTO - Eyes have been called the window to the soul, but they are also proving to be a potential wellspring for regenerative medicine....More

Scientist Stephen Hawking to turn 70, defying crippling disease that often kills within years

CAMBRIDGE, England - British scientist Stephen Hawking has decoded some of the most puzzling mysteries of the universe but he has left one mystery unsolved: How he has managed to survive so long with such a crippling disease....More

Lower cutoff for lead poisoning raises awareness of how to protect kids

WASHINGTON - If you've been putting off repairing a peeling windowsill, or you're thinking of knocking out a wall, listen up: Check how old your house is. You may need to take steps to protect your kids from dangerous lead....More

Location of low-income schools may pose risk to student health, performance: study

VANCOUVER - Students in low-income neighbourhoods are facing exposure to elevated levels of air and noise pollution due to the location of their schools near major roads, a new study suggests....More

Ikea recalls faulty belt on high chairs; open unexpectedly when in use

TORONTO - Ikea is recalling the belts from a type of high chair it sold in Canada and the United States. Health Canada says the belts have been found to open unexpectedly while in use, creating a fall hazard....More

Couple says defective recalled Children's Tylenol killed 2-year-old son; J&J disputes that

TRENTON, N.J. - A couple is suing Johnson & Johnson, alleging their toddler son was killed after taking defective Children's Tylenol from a batch that had been recalled — part of the company's continuing string of recalls of drugs and medical devices....More

Older mothers, fertility treatments driving a big increase in twin births, new CDC report says

ATLANTA - More U.S. women are having twins these days. The reason? Older moms and fertility treatments. One in every 30 babies born in the U.S....More

Niagara Health says 5 patients, 2 staff sickened in Welland enteric outbreak

WELLAND, Ont. - The Niagara Health System says there's an enteric outbreak on the extended care unit at its Welland site....More

New England Journal has chronicled medicine for 200 years

Unhappy with today's health care? Think of what it was like to be sick 200 years ago. No stethoscopes, antibiotics, X-rays or vaccines. Bloodletting was a common treatment. If you had a heart attack or a stroke, doctors put you in bed and hoped for the best....More

Earlier diagnosis of dementia would have been beneficial, caregiver survey finds

TORONTO - Many Canadians dismiss signs of dementia as just a normal part of aging and wait far too long before having a doctor check out the symptoms, a survey by the Alzheimer Society of Canada suggests....More

Doctor search continues as Saskatchewan hospitals still alternating ER times

WYNYARD, Sask. - A search continues to help ease a doctor shortage that has forced two Saskatchewan communities to alternate emergency room schedules. Only two doctors were left after three physicians in Wynyard left in September....More

Controversial bird flu studies raise complex problem, defy easy solutions: WHO

Controversial bird flu studies that are pitting influenza researchers and scientific journals against biosecurity experts raise complex issues and should not be framed in simplistic terms by proponents or opponents of their publication, a World Health Organization official...More

UK experts say assisted suicide possible under strict criteria, but critics call report biased

LONDON - An independent panel of experts in the U.K. says there is a strong case for changing British law to help terminally ill people die....More

Scientist Stephen Hawking to turn 70, defying crippling disease that often kills within years

CAMBRIDGE, England - British scientist Stephen Hawking has decoded some of the most puzzling mysteries of the universe but he has left one mystery unsolved: How he has managed to survive so long with such a crippling disease....More

Bird flu strain that killed man was from poultry, not human, transmission, Chinese city says

BEIJING, China - The strain of H5H1 bird flu that killed a Chinese man cannot spread among people, a health agency said Monday, appealing for calm after the country's first reported case of the disease in humans in 18 months....More

Amid controversy, study finds nearly quarter of women in US get a prenatal thyroid check

WASHINGTON - Check-ups during pregnancy tend to focus around the waist. But there's growing debate about which mothers-to-be should have a gland in their neck tested, too....More

Safeguarding skin: Sunscreen, moisturizers key during winter months

TORONTO - Bundling up with layers of clothing to stave off the winter chill isn't the only protection needed in a cold climate....More

Ontario hospitals, now subject to FOI, to release executive contracts Tuesday

TORONTO - Most Ontario hospitals will release the employment contracts of their CEO's and other top executives today. Hospitals became subject to freedom of information legislation Jan....More

Ombudsman pushes for veterans to have access to benefits info online

OTTAWA - A software program that could end much angry debate between injured soldiers and Veterans Affairs Canada has been stuck in the federal bureaucracy for over a year....More

New Brunswick pharmacists seek deal with the province on generic drug prices

FREDERICTON - The executive director of the New Brunswick Pharmacists Association is urging the provincial government to negotiate a generic drug pricing policy with his group....More

NDP wants cap on salaries of hospital CEOs and an end to expensive perks

TORONTO - It's time to cap salaries and cut lucrative perks for top health-care executives in Ontario, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Tuesday after most hospitals posted their CEO compensation packages online....More

Cancer Society Driven to Quit Challenge begins; prizes butting out include cars

TORONTO - Quit smoking and you could win a car. The Canadian Cancer Society is launching its seventh annual Driven to Quit Challenge today in Ontario....More

B.C. residents to pay more for health care, insurance, power and gas in 2012

VANCOUVER - British Columbia residents will pay more in the coming year for health care, electricity, car insurance and gasoline....More

About 300,000 teddy bears recalled due to potential choking hazard

TORONTO - The popular toy manufacturer Build-A-Bear has issued a recall for some teddy bears that could be a choking hazard to children....More

Hospital north of Toronto battles C. difficile outbreak on two inpatient units

MARKHAM, Ont. - A hospital north of Toronto is fighting an outbreak of Clostridium difficile. Markham Stouffville Hospital officials aren't saying how many people have the potentially deadly bacteria, but say two units at the Markham site are affected....More

Resolving to get fit, again?

HALIFAX - As sure as bargain hunters storm the malls in search of post-Christmas sales, gyms can be a magnet for people who have resolved — this time for good — to get fit in the new year....More

Ontario hospitals, now subject to FOI, to release executive contracts Tuesday

TORONTO - The salaries, perks and retirement benefits of most hospital CEOs and executives will be made public Tuesday under Ontario's freedom of information law. Hospitals became subject to the law Jan....More

Bird flu strain that killed man was from poultry, not human, transmission, Chinese city says

BEIJING, China - The strain of H5H1 bird flu that killed a Chinese man cannot spread among people, a health agency said Monday, appealing for calm after the country's first reported case of the disease in humans in 18 months....More

Amid controversy, study finds nearly quarter of women in US get a prenatal thyroid check

WASHINGTON - Check-ups during pregnancy tend to focus around the waist. But there's growing debate about which mothers-to-be should have a gland in their neck tested, too....More

Ontario hospitals, now subject to FOI, to release executive contracts Tuesday

TORONTO - Most Ontario hospitals will release the employment contracts of their CEO's and other top executives today. Hospitals became subject to freedom of information legislation Jan....More

Alberta doctor suspended for sex, inappropriate conduct with patients

EDMONTON - An Edmonton family doctor has been suspended for inappropriate conduct with two female patients, including sex with one of them. Dr....More

Parents can get in trouble for teen drinking - even if they were unaware

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Parents of teens: If you think a drinking disaster at your kid's party can't happen at your house, not with your kid, because he's a good kid, it's time to wake up and smell the whiskey bottle tossed on your lawn....More

Ottawa reversing rejection of dozens of Agent Orange claims after outcry

OTTAWA - The federal government is reversing a decision to reject compensation for dozens of Canadians affected by the spraying of Agent Orange....More

B.C. residents to pay more for health care, insurance, power and gas in 2012

VANCOUVER - British Columbia residents will pay more in the coming year for health care, electricity, car insurance and gasoline....More

About 300,000 teddy bears recalled due to potential choking hazard

TORONTO - The popular toy manufacturer Build-A-Bear has issued a recall for some teddy bears that could be a choking hazard to children....More

Hospital north of Toronto battles C. difficile outbreak on two inpatient units

MARKHAM, Ont. - A hospital north of Toronto is fighting an outbreak of Clostridium difficile. Markham Stouffville Hospital officials aren't saying how many people have the potentially deadly bacteria, but say two units at the Markham site are affected....More

Study finds nearly quarter of women get a prenatal thyroid check

WASHINGTON - Checkups during pregnancy tend to focus around the waist. But there's growing debate about which mothers-to-be should have a gland in their neck tested, too....More

Bird flu strain that killed man was from poultry, not human, transmission, Chinese city says

BEIJING, China - The strain of H5H1 bird flu that killed a Chinese man cannot spread among people, a health agency said Monday, appealing for calm after the country's first reported case of the disease in humans in 18 months....More