Breaking away for lunch: Hundreds flock to Sweden's popular midday dance parties

STOCKHOLM - Some workers in Sweden have found a rather offbeat way to spend their lunch hour. Actually, on-beat is more like it....More

Biosecurity panel reconvenes to reexamine controversial bird flu studies

A bid from some quarters in the U.S. to resolve the ongoing controversy over two unpublished bird flu studies will begin to play out over the next two days as government biosecurity advisers reconvene to reconsider the issue....More

Australian couple has $1 million hospital bill after baby born in B.C.

SYDNEY - Australia's foreign affairs minister is looking into the case of a Sydney couple stuck with a million dollar hospital bill after their daughter was born in Vancouver last August....More

Alberta Liberals promise $100M to put more doctors in smaller centres

RED DEER, Alta. - The Alberta Liberals say they have a plan to make sure the doctor is always in — no matter where people live....More

US tightens oversight of high-stakes research amid debate over bird flu work

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is ordering a government-wide review of scientific research that could raise biosecurity concerns in the wake of fierce controversy over some man-made strains of the deadly bird flu....More

Inspectors find more cases of salmon virus at Nova Scotia fish farm

HALIFAX - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it could take months before a Nova Scotia fish farm at the centre of a salmon virus outbreak is removed from quarantine....More

B.C. health agencies seek injunction to prevent job action by anesthesiologists

VICTORIA - The B.C. government is using a legal hammer against anesthesiologists who are threatening to withdraw services in a contract dispute with the province....More

Autism in US more common than previously thought; better screening cited

ATLANTA - One child out of 88 is believed to have autism or a related disorder, an increase in the rate attributed largely to wider screening....More

Public health leaders criticize Ottawa's ideology-based drug policies

TORONTO - A number of leading figures in Canadian public health are criticizing the federal government's approach to drug policy, suggesting political ideology is trumping scientific evidence....More

One of Japan's damaged reactors has high radiation, little water, renewing stability concerns

TOKYO - One of Japan's crippled nuclear reactors still has fatally high radiation levels and much less water to cool it than officials had estimated, according to an internal examination that renews doubts about the plant's stability....More

Next question: Can US health care reform survive without forcing people to buy insurance?

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court shifted Wednesday to the question of whether President Barack Obama's health care overhaul can survive if the court were to strike down the core provision that requires all Americans to have health insurance....More

Health minister faces questions about handling of Ornge at committee

TORONTO - Ontario's embattled health minister told a special committee Wednesday she was "handcuffed" by rules that prevented her from acting sooner to stop the waste of taxpayer dollars at Ornge....More

Breaking away for lunch: Hundreds flock to Sweden's popular midday dance parties

STOCKHOLM - Some workers in Sweden have found a rather offbeat way to spend their lunch hour. Actually, on-beat is more like it....More

Biosecurity panel reconvenes to reexamine controversial bird flu studies

A bid from some quarters in the U.S. to resolve the ongoing controversy over two unpublished bird flu studies will begin to play out over the next two days as government biosecurity advisers reconvene to reconsider the issue....More

Australian couple has $1 million hospital bill after baby born in B.C.

SYDNEY - Australia's foreign affairs minister is looking into the case of a Sydney couple stuck with a million dollar hospital bill after their daughter was born in Vancouver last August....More

Alberta Liberals promise $100M to put more doctors in smaller centres

RED DEER, Alta. - The Alberta Liberals say they have a plan to make sure the doctor is always in — no matter where people live....More

New program aims to spur research into innovative treatment for kids with autism

OTTAWA - The federal government announced funding Tuesday to support research into autism spectrum disorder, a developmental neurological condition that affects thousands of Canadian children....More

Man injured in gun accident gets new face in most extensive transplant ever

BALTIMORE - A 37-year-old U.S. man injured in a 1997 gun accident has been given a new face, teeth, tongue and jaw in what doctors say is the most extensive face transplant ever performed....More

Little kids should move more, sit less, say new guidelines for children under four

TORONTO - Little children should be moving more and sitting less, according to new recommendations that are being billed as the first Canadian guidelines for physical activity and sedentary behaviour for children four and younger....More

Fear of stigma can mean hiding memory lapses from loved ones, co-workers

TORONTO - Cynthia first noticed she was having trouble with her memory a couple of years ago while reading books, one of her favourite pastimes. From one day to the next, she found herself unable to recall the plot, the main characters or the setting....More

Common-sense solutions can fix health and not break the bank: Alberta NDP

EDMONTON - Alberta's New Democrats say they have common-sense solutions to get the province's ailing health-care system back on its feet without breaking the bank....More

Quebec study finds 109 breast-cancer cases not originally diagnosed

MONTREAL - A sweeping medical study of thousands of mammograms in Quebec has found 109 cases of breast cancer that had not been previously diagnosed....More

Public health leaders criticize Ottawa's ideology-based drug policies

TORONTO - A number of leading figures in Canadian public health are criticizing the federal government's approach to drug policy, suggesting political ideology is trumping scientific evidence....More

Australian couple has $1 million hospital bill after baby born in BC

SYDNEY - Australia's foreign affairs minister is looking into the case of a Sydney couple stuck with a million dollar hospital bill after their daughter was born in Vancouver last August....More

Studies: Weight-loss surgery dramatically improves diabetes; remissions can last years

CHICAGO - New research gives clear proof that weight-loss surgery can reverse and possibly cure diabetes, and doctors say it should be offered sooner to more people with the disease — not just as a last resort....More

Number of whooping cough cases double in New Brunswick in last month

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health says reported cases of whooping cough in the province have doubled in the last month....More

Newfoundland and Labrador to cut price of generic drugs by almost half

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Generic drug prices in Newfoundland and Labrador would be cut by almost half over the next year under legislation introduced by the provincial government....More

Liberals trying to turn the tables on opposition over Ornge scandal

TORONTO - Ontario's governing Liberals tried to turn the tables on the opposition parties Monday over the Ornge scandal, saying they too failed to spot red flags at the troubled air ambulance service....More

How hard is it to design a clinical study? When you're giving stool enemas, very

TORONTO - How hard could it be to set up a scientific study to test a possible cure for C. difficile diarrhea? If the treatment in question involves someone else's stool, a one word answer suffices. Very....More

Consent policy for pelvic exams by medical students flawed, legals analysts say

TORONTO - The latest guidelines governing pelvic examinations for women under anesthetic leave patients less protected than they were under the previous rules, say legal analysts....More

BC expands coverage under PharmaCare plan for new drug for hepatitus-C

VICTORIA - The B.C. government is expanding drug coverage under the PharmaCare plan for people suffering from hepatitis C....More

Little kids should move more, sit less, say new guidelines for children under four

TORONTO - Little children should be moving more and sitting less, according to new recommendations that are being billed as the first Canadian guidelines for physical activity and sedentary behaviour for children four and younger....More

Liberals not disclosing salaries of Ornge executives on sunshine list

TORONTO - The sky-high salaries of some of Ornge's former top executives aren't being disclosed by the governing Liberals in their annual list of top public sector pay, despite promises of more transparency....More

Alberta government sits down with doctors as premier prepares to call election

CALGARY - Premier Alison Redford and Health Minister Fred Horne met with physicians in Calgary to discuss how health care can be improved. Horne says the government has agreed to consult with doctors more before making changes to the system....More

Merck deciding next step for experimental blood thinner after disappointing results in study

CHICAGO - Officials at drugmaker Merck & Co. say they will take more time to decide what to do about an experimental blood thinner that gave disappointing results in a second big study....More

U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments on Obama's signature health-care laws

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court begins a three-day referendum on Monday on President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement, determining whether sweeping health-care laws sneeringly dubbed "Obamacare" by his foes are over-reaching and unconstitutional....More

Ottawa opens emergency drug stockpile to help ease medication shortage

TORONTO - The federal government has offered to dip into its emergency supply of medications to help ease the ongoing drug shortage created by production problems at Sandoz Canada....More

Ontario budget will include welfare freeze, McGuinty says

TORONTO - Ontario's cash-strapped Liberals are freezing welfare and delaying planned increases to the Ontario Child Benefit in Tuesday's budget to help slay a $16-billion deficit....More

McGuinty stands by embattled health minister who won't resign over Ornge scandal

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty is standing by his embattled health minister over the Ornge scandal....More

Cheney's surgery reopens debate about whether age should be bigger factor in organ transplants

CHICAGO - Doctors say it is unlikely that former Vice-President Dick Cheney got special treatment when he was given a new heart at age 71 that thousands of younger people also were in line to receive....More

MDs propose tax increases for wealthiest Canadians, starting at $100,000

TORONTO - A group of doctors is calling on federal and provincial governments to raise income taxes levied on high-income Canadians. They are launching a campaign to get support for the idea, using the slogan "Tax us. Canada's worth it....More

Living together before marriage no longer seen as bad omen; about 60% of couples try it

ATLANTA - Nearly half of first marriages break up within 20 years, a new U.S. government study finds....More

Hospitals warned to quarantine Sandoz morphine product after labelling mix-up

TORONTO - Health Canada is warning hospitals and health-care providers across the country to immediately stop using a painkiller made by Sandoz Canada after a box of the injectable morphine was found to contain another powerful drug that had been mislabelled....More

Feds extend funding for northern tuberculosis research, testing

IQALUIT, Nunavut - The federal government has extended a program to increase northerners' awareness of tuberculosis outside the capital of Nunavut....More

Condom use rises among teens and young adults: Statistics Canada

TORONTO - A new report suggests condom use is on the rise among sexually active teens and young adults, but experts say far too many young Canadians are still not protecting themselves against sexually transmitted infections....More

Calgary police worry dealers holding on to tainted ecstasy

CALGARY - Police in Alberta's largest city are concerned there may still be stockpiles of the tainted street drug ecstasy that have already led to the deaths of nine people....More

Alberta RCMP investigate death of man from chemical linked to drug ecstasy

MORINVILLE, Alta. - Alberta RCMP are investigating the death of another person from a substance that has been linked to the street drug ecstasy. Toxicology results on the man found in a house north of Edmonton show he had the chemical PMMA in his system....More

'Concerned' about Ornge allegations, McGuinty promises action on auditor's report

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty says he's "concerned" by allegations of questionable business practices at Ontario's air ambulance service....More

Food inspection agency recalls 135 ground beef products over E.coli fears

Think twice before you barbecue that burger. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is urging the public to check all ground beef products in their freezers as a country-wide recall due to possible E.coli contamination affects a growing number of brands....More

Ex-Ornge managers, directors refused to co-operate with auditor general's probe

TORONTO - Ontario's auditor general will release his report on Ornge today, but he may not be able to tell the whole story behind the scandal....More

Cigarette packs bearing more explicit labels to begin appearing on store shelves

OTTAWA - New graphic labels for cigarette and little cigar packages will start making their way onto store shelves....More

Alberta government, physicians, reach tentative deal prior to election call

EDMONTON - The group that represents Alberta physicians has reached a tentative pay deal with the province after a year's worth of talks and only days before an anticipated provincial election call....More

MDs propose tax increases for wealthiest Canadians, starting at $100,000

TORONTO - A group of doctors is calling on federal and provincial governments to raise income taxes levied on high-income Canadians. They are launching a campaign to get support for the idea, using the slogan "Tax us. Canada's worth it....More

Hospitals warned to quarantine Sandoz morphine product after labelling mix-up

TORONTO - Health Canada is warning hospitals and health-care providers across the country to immediately stop using a painkiller made by Sandoz Canada after a box of the injectable morphine was found to contain another powerful drug that had been mislabelled....More

Condom use rises among teens and young adults: Statistics Canada

TORONTO - A new report suggests condom use is on the rise among sexually active teens and young adults, but experts say far too many young Canadians are still not protecting themselves against sexually transmitted infections....More

'Concerned' about Ornge allegations, McGuinty promises action on auditor's report

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty says he's "concerned" by allegations of questionable business practices at Ontario's air ambulance service....More

NDP support mandatory phys-ed through Grade 12; Tories worry about the cost

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government wouldn't commit Tuesday to adopting a recommendation from two provincial health agencies to make physical education classes mandatory all through high school....More

Measles case has Edmonton health officials warning of possible exposures

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Services has confirmed one case of measles in the Edmonton area, and is advising of potential exposures....More

Liberals facing auditor general's report on troubled air ambulance service Ornge

TORONTO - Ontario's governing Liberals will be confronted with one of their biggest embarrassments Wednesday when the first report on Ornge, the province's troubled air ambulance service, is tabled in the legislature....More

Health officials investigate after blood, urine samples found near road

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health board is reporting a privacy breach after biomedical waste was discovered near a busy St. John's road....More

Food inspection agency recalls 135 ground beef products over E.coli fears

Think twice before you barbecue that burger. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is urging the public to check all ground beef products in their freezers as a country-wide recall due to possible E.coli contamination affects a growing number of brands....More

CP Exclusive: Former Ornge execs refused to co-operate with AG, source says

TORONTO - A long-awaited report on Ornge by Ontario's auditor general won't be able to tell the whole story behind the scandal at the province's troubled air ambulance service, The Canadian Press has learned....More

B.C. banning children and teens from tanning beds, citing cancer risk

VANCOUVER - Kathy Barnard was just 15 when she and her sister picked up a do-it-yourself tanning light from a local department store in Powell River, B.C., brought it home and baked under it for more than an hour....More

Ex-Ornge managers, directors refused to co-operate with auditor general's probe

TORONTO - Ontario's auditor general will release his report on Ornge today, but he may not be able to tell the whole story behind the scandal....More

Patient-based hospital funding coming to Ontario, starting in April

TORONTO - Most of Ontario's public hospitals will see changes in how the government funds them starting next month, Health Minister Deb Matthews said Monday....More

Minister says report stating care facility deal costly to taxpayers is wrong

SASKATOON - Saskatchean Health Minister Don McMorris says there are major inconsistencies in a report that looked at the government's funding of a long-term care centre in Saskatoon....More

Measles case has Edmonton health officials warning of possible exposures

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Services has confirmed one case of measles in the Edmonton area, and is advising of potential exposures....More

Lean protein an essential energy source to help you feel full longer: dietitian

TORONTO - We all need protein in our diets, whether we are growing children, office workers chained to a desk or personal trainers helping people achieve their fitness goals. Yet some Canadians might not be aware of where in the food chain to get this important nutrient....More

Health care workers in Halifax area vote 91 per cent in favour of strike action

HALIFAX - Health care workers in the Halifax area have voted in favour of strike action to back their contract demands. Of the workers who voted Monday 91 per cent were in favour of a strike....More

Drugs for enlarged prostate, baldness may boost risk of prostate cancer

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning that certain drugs used to treat an enlarged prostate or male-pattern baldness may increase the risk of a serious form of prostate cancer....More

Commercial test for food allergies, sensitivities 'waste of money,' MD warns

TORONTO - Commercial tests that claim to determine whether a person has food allergies, sensitivities or an inability to tolerate certain foods are a waste of money, warns a Toronto allergy specialist, who wrote about the issue in this week's Canadian Medical Association Journal....More

Prevent chronic disease to ease strain on Ont. health-care system: report

TORONTO - Higher tobacco taxes, mandatory phys-ed credits throughout high school and more health information on menus are a few recommendations in a new report aimed at the Ontario government....More

Experts: Afghanistan shooting suspect may have post-traumatic stress

Mental health experts say the U.S. soldier suspected of killing 16 Afghan civilians could have post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD....More

Experts: Afghanistan shooting suspect may have post-traumatic stress

The questions are already being debated: Did the U.S. soldier suspected of killing 16 Afghan villagers have post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD? And did the people who sent him back to war after he was injured properly determine he was mentally fit to return? ...More

Experts: Afghanistan shooting suspect may have post-traumatic stress

The questions are already being debated: Did the U.S. soldier suspected of killing 16 Afghan villagers have post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD? And did the people who sent him back to war after he was injured properly determine he was mentally fit to return? ...More

Koh-Kae recalls peanut snacks that contain milk not declared on the label

OTTAWA - Koh-Kae is recalling its shrimp and chicken flavoured peanut snacks because they may contain milk that is not declared on the label....More

N.S. health care workers strike vote to be tallied, talks resume next month

HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union says services will take a hit if health care workers go on strike, but Capital Health's emergency services will still be provided....More

Manitoba pharmacy probed by Health Canada over gift-basket scheme

OTTAWA - Health Canada called in the Mounties after investigators found a Manitoba pharmacy used a gift-basket scheme to allegedly fleece the federal government's health plan for aboriginals....More

Manitoba considers joining other provinces in requiring bicycle helmets

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government may soon make it illegal for cyclists to ride without a helmet. "We're looking forward and seriously considering the legislation shortly," Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau said in an interview....More

California's stem cell agency ponders a future without taxpayer support

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The creation of California's stem cell agency in 2004 was greeted by scientists and patients as a turning point in a field mired in debates about the destruction of embryos and hampered by federal research restrictions....More

Nova Scotia town defeats bylaw that would prohibit smoking on its main street

ANTIGONISH, N.S. - Town council in Antigonish, N.S., has defeated a proposed bylaw that would have prohibited smoking on the community's Main Street....More

New Brunswick to spend $329 million to boost nursing home capacity

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick will spend $329 million to create more nursing home spaces following a review that concluded the highest demand for long-term care over the next decade will be in the province's three largest cities....More

Minister says long contract dispute for cancer workers needs to be negotiated

REGINA - Workers at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency have taken their two-year fight to get a new contract to the legislature....More

Internet advice is not meant to replace healthcare provider: doctor

TORONTO - When Melodie Moore was recovering from a broken heart and wondering why her relationship had soured, Dr. Google had the answer: borderline personality disorder....More

Economic cost of chronic lung disease will be $24.1B in 2030, report forecasts

TORONTO - A new forecast from the Conference Board of Canada predicts the economic burden of three chronic lung diseases will be $24.1 billion in the year 2030....More

CDC to launch large, graphic anti-smoking ad campaign to urge smokers to quit

ATLANTA - In a graphic new ad campaign announced Thursday, the U.S. government is trying to shock smokers into quitting with the sometimes-gruesome stories of people damaged by tobacco products....More

Aglukkaq promises 24-hour review to license replacement drugs in short supply: Oswald

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's health minister says she has secured a commitment from Ottawa for a 24-hour turn-around time to approve replacements for drugs in short supply....More

Ottawa promises to speed up reviews to license replacement drugs in short supply

TORONTO - Health Canada is speeding up the review process needed to approve replacement medications in a bid to ease the drug shortage affecting the country, federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq confirmed Thursday. "What I have committed to ......More

Refusal to import mice for scientific testing 'choking off' medical research, experts say

LONDON - Medical research in the U.K. is being jeopardized by activists who have persuaded transport companies to stop importing mice, rats and rabbits for scientific experiments, a former British science minister says....More

Nova Scotia announces $614,000 for support program for youths at risk

TRURO, N.S. - The Nova Scotia government has announced $614,000 in funding to support a program assisting youths to stay in school and deal with family problems....More

Non-sterilized equipment used during births at Halifax hospital

HALIFAX - The IWK Health Centre in Halifax says it is contacting dozens of new mothers after discovering that non-sterilized equipment was used in the hospital's birth unit this month....More

Mixed message on PSA tests for prostate cancer; screening is not saving lives: study

A big study of men in Europe gives mixed results about prostate cancer screening that may do little to change minds about its value. The study finds that PSA blood tests every four years seem to cut the risk of death from prostate cancer....More

Health Canada warns class of antibiotics worsens symptoms of muscle disorder

TORONTO - Health Canada is warning that a class of antibiotic drugs can worsen the symptoms of myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder marked by muscle weakness. Bayer Inc. and Janssen Inc....More

Calling it 'pink slime,' critics of treating meat with ammonia gaining ground

ALBANY, N.Y. - "Pink slime" just went from a simmer to a boil. In less than a week earlier this month, the stomach-turning epithet for ammonia-treated ground beef filler suddenly became a potent rallying cry by activists fighting to ban the product from...More

Undeclared milk and soy content prompts recall of some Cheetos products

OTTAWA - People with allergies to milk or soy are being urged to avoid eating some Frito Lay Cheetos products because the milk and soy is not declared on the label....More

Nova Scotia town defeats bylaw that would prohibit smoking on its main street

ANTIGONISH, N.S. - Town council in Antigonish, N.S., has defeated a proposed bylaw that would have prohibited smoking on the community's Main Street....More

Filmmaker inspired to make running documentary after struggling with knee pain

TORONTO - For some 20 years, running has been a big part of Niobe Thompson's life. Lacing up his shoes and hitting the road helps him relieve stress, gives him quiet time to think and keeps him fit....More

Costlier hospitals appear to give better care, at least in Ont., study suggests

TORONTO - A new study suggests people may get better treatment at Ontario hospitals that spend more on care than hospitals at the other end of the spending spectrum....More

Costlier hospitals appear to give better care for some conditions: study

TORONTO - When it comes to certain kinds of medical conditions, people may get better treatment at Ontario hospitals that spend more on care than hospitals at the other end of the spending spectrum, a new study suggests....More

Cancer Society says feds must do more to alleviate drug shortages

TORONTO - The Canadian Cancer Society wants federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq to do more to address the urgent issue of drug shortages in the country, and says a mandatory reporting system for looming shortages is an important first step....More

Breakdance class is one way image of disabled is being changed in Canada

MONTREAL - Luca Patuelli's students form a semi-circle in the classroom at Joseph-Charbonneau secondary school, most of them leaning on crutches or sitting in wheelchairs. Patuelli pulls himself into the group supported by a pair of crutches....More

B.C. anesthesiologists threaten to pull services over seat at bargaining table

VANCOUVER - A contract dispute involving a group of British Columbia anesthesiologists has boiled over into name-calling between politicians and physicians. Health Minister Mike de Jong said Tuesday the B.C....More

Alberta opposition parties repeat call for study of alleged doctor intimidation

EDMONTON - The leaders of Alberta's four opposition parties want the government to probe allegations of doctors being intimidated by their supervisors or political masters....More

Refusal to import animals for scientific testing "choking off" medical research, experts say

LONDON - Medical research in the U.K. is being jeopardized by activists who have convinced transport companies to stop importing animals for scientific experiments, a former British science minister says....More

Opioids after low-pain surgery: study indicates higher risk of dependency

TORONTO - The prescribing of painkillers to seniors for relatively low-pain surgeries may lead to some becoming dependent on opioids such as codeine or oxycodone, a new study suggests....More

Nurses group releases guidelines for using last-resort restraints on patients

TORONTO - An Ontario nurses group released new guidelines Monday aimed at minimizing the use of potentially harmful restraints on residents of psychiatric hospitals, long-term care homes and other patient facilities....More

Metal-on-metal hip joints fail more than others; stop using them, experts say

LONDON - British experts at the world's biggest artificial joint registry said doctors should stop using metal-on-metal hip replacements, citing an analysis showing they have to be fixed or replaced more often than other implants....More

Medically prescribed heroin more cost-effective than methadone, study suggests

TORONTO - Treating longtime "street heroin" addicts with a medically prescribed form of the narcotic is more cost-effective in the long run than using standard methadone therapy, a study suggests....More

Labelling error forces recall of single lot of Rexall Extra Strength sinus drugs

TORONTO - Health Canada says a labelling mix-up is behind the recall of a single lot of daytime-nighttime sinus medication. The product is the combo pack of Rexall Extra Strength Sinus Relief Daytime and Nighttime Caplets, and the lot number is 00058398B....More

Eating disorders a 'secretive disease': experts help parents spot the signs

TORONTO - Parents who have a child with an eating disorder can go through a whole host of problems themselves — they feel guilty, anxious and ashamed that they can't seem to help their child, say the authors of a new book....More

Canadian Cancer Society says feds must do more to alleviate drug shortages

TORONTO - The Canadian Cancer Society wants federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq to do more to address the urgent issue of drug shortages in the country, and says a mandatory reporting system for looming shortages is an important first step....More

Nova Scotia hospital cuts 22 jobs in its mental health and addictions programs

HALIFAX - A Halifax hospital has cut 22 of 83 jobs for youth care workers in its mental health and addictions programs....More

Lake Simcoe town of Georgina ponders outdoor smoking ban, vote late this month

GEORGINA, Ont. - The Lake Simcoe town of Georgina is a step closer to banning smoking at a number of outdoor locations. Council has approved a report calling for a smoking ban for the town's beaches, parks and trails....More

Canadian dance education company encourages kids to step to their own beat

TORONTO - With each new tune pumping through the speakers, the energetic students seamlessly transform from mimicking the limber movements of a monkey to simulating the rapid-fire hand motions of a seasoned drummer....More

Study finds mentally ill more likely to be arrested, harmed by police

VANCOUVER - A British Columbia study suggests about 40 per cent of people with mental illness have been arrested at some point during their lifetime....More

Six provinces hire legal team to fight tobacco firms over health costs

VICTORIA - British Columbia and five other provinces are teaming up to sue Canadian tobacco firms for health-care costs. B.C....More

Scientists fear row over bird flu studies may undermine credibility of the field

TORONTO - As influenza scientists and biosecurity experts continue to do battle over controversial bird flu studies, some in the flu world worry arguments being used to push for full publication of the studies may be eroding the credibility of the field....More

Birth control cost varies widely, study suggests more women choose IUD if free

WASHINGTON - Birth control that you must take every single day? A more goof-proof option that costs a lot upfront but then works for several years? Or something in between? A woman's choice may come down to her wallet: The price of birth control varies...More

Trudeau and senator to go toe-to-toe in cancer charity boxing bout

OTTAWA - Justin Trudeau will exchange a figurative blood sport for a real one when he steps out of the political arena and into the boxing ring in a few weeks....More

Eating disorders a 'secretive disease': experts help parents spot the signs

TORONTO - Parents who have a child with an eating disorder can go through a whole host of problems themselves — they feel guilty, anxious and ashamed that they can't seem to help their child, say the authors of a new book....More

Widow of MP who killed himself pleads for suicide prevention plan

OTTAWA - Denise Batters leans forward in her chair and cranes her neck to watch the video about her late husband, Dave. A silence falls over the room as she appears on the screen, flipping through a scrapbook of newspaper articles about his suicide....More

U.S. Surgeon General: More work needed to keep youth from using tobacco products

RICHMOND, Va. - More work needs to be done to keep young Americans from using tobacco, including creating smoking bans and increasing taxes on tobacco products, the U.S. Surgeon General's office said in a report released Thursday....More

Ottawa open to requiring pharma companies to publicly report drug shortfalls

TORONTO - The federal Conservatives say they're open to requiring pharmaceutical companies to publicly report gaps in their drug supply in the wake of a prescription medication shortage that caught many by surprise....More

Ontario slams Ottawa for lack of notice about prescription drug shortage

TORONTO - Canada's most populous province is scrambling to deal with a shortage of various prescription drugs because Ottawa didn't give enough warning about a slowdown in production, Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews said Thursday....More

Officials insist seniors at troubled care home not exposed to asbestos

REGINA - The Saskatoon Health Region insists all precautions were taken to remove asbestos from a seniors home where there have been structural problems. The region says asbestos was found in floor tiles in part of the assisted living section at St....More

Nova Scotia fish minister says salmon virus outbreak a 'normal business day'

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's fisheries minister is facing sharp criticism for suggesting Thursday that a recent viral outbreak at a large fish farm is just a routine part of the aquaculture business....More

Lake Simcoe town of Georgina ponders outdoor smoking ban, vote late this month

GEORGINA, Ont. - The Lake Simcoe town of Georgina is a step closer to banning smoking at a number of outdoor locations. Council has approved a report calling for a smoking ban for the town's beaches, parks and trails....More

Canadian dance education company encourages kids to step to their own beat

TORONTO - With each new tune pumping through the speakers, the energetic students seamlessly transform from mimicking the limber movements of a monkey to simulating the rapid-fire hand motions of a seasoned drummer....More

Newfoundland and Labrador won't change coverage policy for skin removal surgery

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador won't change its coverage policy on skin removal surgery after conducting a review of the service....More

McGuinty wants wage freeze for elected politicians frozen for 2 more years

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty wants all elected provincial politicians to extend their pay freeze for another two years. That would leave their base pay at about $116,000 a year, and McGuinty's salary at about $203,000....More

Islanders more likely to be overweight, but plan to make changes, says report

CHARLOTTETOWN - A new report says people living in Prince Edward Island are more likely to be obese or overweight than other Canadians....More

Gene study suggests treating cancer is more complex than many had hoped

BOSTON - Scientists are reporting what could be very bad news for efforts to customize cancer treatment based on each person's genes. They have discovered big differences from place to place in the same tumour as to which genes are active or mutated....More

Federal inspection agency confirms salmon virus at Nova Scotia fish farm

HALIFAX - A Maritime aquaculture company says it is taking the outbreak of a salmon virus at one of its Nova Scotia fish farms seriously....More

Experimental transplant method attempts to spare kidney recipients from anti-rejection drugs

WASHINGTON - An experimental technique seems to be freeing some kidney transplant patients from having to take anti-rejection drugs. Researchers transplanted certain cells from the kidney donor's bone marrow along with the new organ....More

B.C. says shortage of pain drugs may cancel some elective surgeries

VICTORIA - B.C. Health Minister Mike de Jong says a shortage of pain killing drugs may result in cancelled elective surgeries if supplies continue to run low....More

Aricept helps when Alzheimer's patients are at moderate-to-severe stage: study

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Alzheimer's disease patients who are taking a commonly prescribed drug can still benefit from it after they progress to moderate-to-severe illness, when it can be tough to tell whether it's doing any good, a new study says....More

Veterans Review and Appeal Board called abusive, demeaning by ex-soldiers

OTTAWA - They once referred to her as "the little woman" and suggested the post traumatic stress she'd suffered as a peacekeeper in the Bosnia war meant she couldn't handle the rigours of service....More

Switching patient from OxyContin to another opioid can be challenge for doctors

TORONTO - The overdose death of a Northern Ontario man should be a red flag for primary care doctors who must switch patients from the now discontinued drug OxyContin to another opioid to control their chronic pain, experts say....More

Opposition motion to halt cuts at Veterans Affairs defeated by Tory majority

OTTAWA - There will be job cuts at Veterans Affairs despite Opposition demands that the federal department's budget remain untouched. An NDP motion to exempt the $3....More

New Democrats calls for abolition of privacy plagued veterans review board

OTTAWA - New Democrats want to see the review agency at the centre of the latest veterans privacy scandal abolished....More

Future work on lab-made bird flu viruses should be done in most secure labs

TORONTO - Future work on mutated bird flu viruses should only take place in laboratories with the highest level of biosafety, suggests a new commentary on the controversy over two studies that led to the creation of these viruses....More

Alert issued over undeclared milk in certain Red Square Brand cookies

OTTAWA - People with milk allergies are being warned to avoid certain Red Square brand Real Deal Energy Cookies because they contain milk which is not declared on the label....More

Widow of Saskatchewan MP pushes Ottawa for national suicide prevention plan

REGINA - The wife of a former Saskatchewan MP who killed himself is going to Ottawa to push for a federal suicide prevention plan. Denise Batters' husband, Dave, killed himself in his Regina home in June 2009 after battling anxiety and depression....More

Why so little flu this year? The question sparks many questions, no answers

TORONTO - It's a bit confounding, even for influenza. This year's Northern Hemisphere flu season has been markedly mild in many places — Canada, the United States, much of Europe....More

Living well, not just longer: Doctors, patients urged to share heart care decisions

A heart device might save your life but leave you miserable. That awful possibility is the reason for new advice urging doctors to talk more honestly with people who have very weak hearts and are considering pumps, pacemakers, new valves or procedures to open clogged arteries....More

Health Canada suggests foreign sources will be sought for drugs in short supply

TORONTO - The federal government says it is working with pharmaceutical companies to address shortfalls in the supply of some prescription drugs, including a request that they seek alternative sources of the medications outside Canada....More

Even mild concussions can cause lingering symptoms; research helps identify which kids at risk

CHICAGO - Children with even relatively mild concussions can have persistent attention and memory problems a year after their injuries, according to a study that helps identify which kids may be most at risk for lingering symptoms....More

Coroners want tighter control on cough syrup ingredient that can be lethal

QUEBEC - Two Quebec coroners say cough syrup contains a substance that when taken incorrectly can be lethal and it should be taken off the shelves and put under the control of pharmacists....More

Commons to vote on opposition demand to exempt veterans from budget axe

OTTAWA - Federal opposition parties and advocates drew a line in the sand on Monday, demanding the Conservative government protect Veterans Affairs Canada from any planned budget cuts....More

Veterans Review and Appeal Board called abusive, demeaning by ex-soldiers

OTTAWA - They once referred to her as "the little woman" and suggested the post traumatic stress she'd suffered as a peacekeeper in the Bosnia war meant she couldn't handle the rigours of service....More

Future work on lab-made bird flu viruses should be done in most secure labs

TORONTO - Future work on mutated bird flu viruses should only take place in laboratories with the highest level of biosafety, suggests a new commentary on the controversy over two studies that led to the creation of these viruses....More

Alert issued over undeclared milk in certain Red Square Brand cookies

OTTAWA - People with milk allergies are being warned to avoid certain Red Square brand Real Deal Energy Cookies because they contain milk which is not declared on the label....More

CUPE has busy year ahead in Saskatchewan with lots of contracts to be negotiated

SASKATOON - The national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Paul Moist, says it's going to be a busy bargaining year for their members. Moist says health care is the biggest public policy issue in Saskatchewan....More

CDC reports fewer drug users who inject are testing positive for HIV

ATLANTA - There's some good news from the AIDS front: Fewer needle drug users are testing positive for HIV. U.S. health officials said Thursday the rate has dropped by half since the 1990s. The decline may be related to a growth in needle exchange programs....More

Asbestos sector wants Ottawa's help to overturn WHO death-toll estimate

MONTREAL - The Canadian asbestos sector wants Ottawa's help to challenge a death-toll estimate from the World Health Organization that says asbestos-related diseases kill more than 100,000 people every year....More

Study of miners shows high exposure to diesel exhaust increases risk of death from lung cancer

WASHINGTON - There is new evidence that exposure to exhaust from diesel engines increases the risk of lung cancer. Diesel exhaust has long been classified as a probable carcinogen....More

Researchers aim to find invisible damage traumatic brain injury leaves behind

WASHINGTON - The soldier on the fringes of an explosion. The survivor of a car wreck. The football player who took yet another skull-rattling hit....More

CFIA recalls beef frankfurters over fears of listeria contamination

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Glatt's Kosher Meat Products are warning the public not to consume Glatt's brand Beef Frankfurters Jumbo BBQ....More

Asbestos mine's revival doomed as investors stay away: Quebec politician

MONTREAL - The quest to revive one of Canada's last asbestos mines — and possibly save the embattled industry — is destined for failure, says a Quebec politician who hopes the sector will be shuttered for good....More

Will Rush Limbaugh's 'slut' comments finally cause Republicans to cut ties?

WASHINGTON - Rush Limbaugh has been called the godfather of the GOP, a conservative firebrand whose enormous following by millions of disciples known as "dittoheads" has given him unprecedented clout in the Republican party....More

Kidney donors not at higher risk of heart disease, study suggests

TORONTO - Donating a kidney doesn't appear to put the people who do it at greater risk of developing heart disease, new Canadian research suggests....More

I kept my promise: Alberta premier Redford on health inquiry

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Alison Redford says she is keeping her promise to get to the bottom of allegations that doctors have been intimidated for speaking up about the province's health care....More

Health Canada passes on warning about risks of 'Spinbrush' toothbrushes

TORONTO - Health Canada is alerting Canadians to safety problems that have been reported about "Spinbrush" brand powered toothbrushes. The advisory comes two weeks after the Food and Drug Administration warned U.S....More

Health authority says doctors wrong about 84 infection deaths at B.C. hospital

BURNABY, B.C. - A British Columbia health authority has acknowledged the rate of C. difficile infection at a suburban Vancouver hospital is triple the rate of the Canadian benchmark, but denies 84 people have died because of it over the past two and a half years....More

CUPE has busy year ahead in Saskatchewan with lots of contracts to be negotiated

SASKATOON - The national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Paul Moist, says it's going to be a busy bargaining year for their members. Moist says health care is the biggest public policy issue in Saskatchewan....More

CDC reports fewer drug users who inject are testing positive for HIV

ATLANTA - There's some good news from the AIDS front: Fewer needle drug users are testing positive for HIV. U.S. health officials said Thursday the rate has dropped by half since the 1990s. The decline may be related to a growth in needle exchange programs....More

Asbestos sector wants Ottawa's help to overturn WHO death-toll estimate

MONTREAL - The Canadian asbestos sector wants Ottawa's help to challenge a death-toll estimate from the World Health Organization that says asbestos-related diseases kill more than 100,000 people every year....More

CFIA recalls beef frankfurters over fears of listeria contamination

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Glatt's Kosher Meat Products are warning the public not to consume Glatt's brand Beef Frankfurters Jumbo BBQ....More

Funding in limbo as government pushes new rules for clean water on reserves

OTTAWA - A major fund for clean water on reserves is set to expire even as the Conservatives tabled a new bill that aimed at improving water quality for First Nations....More

Experimental drug holds promise for use as post-stroke therapy: study

TORONTO - Newly reported Canadian research is holding out hope that a treatment for minimizing the damage done by the most common type of stroke could be on the horizon....More

Canadian doctor among 7 indicted in alleged $375M health-care fraud

DALLAS - A Canadian doctor in Texas has been charged with running a massive health-care fraud scheme with thousands of fraudulent patients and intermediaries allegedly offering cash, food stamps or free groceries, to bilk Medicare and Medicaid of nearly $375 million....More

B.C. dumps its generic drug-pricing deal, cites savings shortfall

VICTORIA - The B.C. government is tearing up its generic drug pricing deal with the B.C. Pharmacy Association and the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores, saying the agreement is saving far less money than hoped....More

B.C. drops coverage of painkiller OxyContin; restricts coverage of new drug

VICTORIA - B.C. is joining several other provinces in dropping coverage of the powerful painkiller OxyContin as the drug's maker switches to a new product called OxyNEO....More

Alberta Premier Redford fends of attacks she broke her word on health inquiry

EDMONTON - Alberta's opposition Wildrose party cranked the heat up to full boil on Premier Alison Redford Wednesday, calling her a liar over her handling of an inquiry into health-care misdeeds....More

CUPE has busy year ahead in Saskatchewan with lots of contracts to be negotiated

SASKATOON - The national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Paul Moist, says it's going to be a busy bargaining year for their members. Moist says health care is the biggest public policy issue in Saskatchewan....More

Asbestos sector wants Ottawa's help to overturn WHO death-toll estimate

MONTREAL - The Canadian asbestos sector wants Ottawa's help to challenge a death-toll estimate from the World Health Organization that says asbestos-related diseases kill more than 100,000 people every year....More