Offices rife with bacteria; More found in men's than women's, study says

TORONTO - Offices are rife with bacteria, and not just in the washrooms, a new study suggests. Scientists who set out to see how much and what kinds of bacteria are found in offices discovered there are plenty....More

Matthews meets with OMA to urge doctors to return to negotiating table

TORONTO - Health Minister Deb Matthews met privately with the Ontario Medical Association today in hopes of getting negotiations with doctors back on track....More

Hundreds of US salmonella cases tied to live, mail-order chicks; backyard farming blamed

ATLANTA - Those cute mail-order chicks that wind up in children's Easter baskets and backyard farms have been linked to more than 300 cases of salmonella in the U.S. — mostly in youngsters — since 2004....More

Human-rights advocates demand federal government apologize to UN official

OTTAWA - A long list of human-rights groups, lawyers and activists wants the federal government to apologize for trashing the UN food envoy during his recent visit to Canada....More

Health Ministry and doctors will meet to map out return to negotiating table

TORONTO - The tense relations between doctors and the Liberal government eased slightly Wednesday, but the Ontario Medical Association still would not agree to return to contract talks....More

Ex-Ornge CEO Chris Mazza may appear at legislative committee July 18: NDP

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty is facing the prospect of being grilled about Ornge by a legislative committee investigating Ontario's troubled air ambulance service....More

Alberta to file lawsuit against tobacco companies; seeks $10B in damages

EDMONTON - Alberta is joining the list of provinces suing tobacco manufacturers for the costs of caring for patients with smoking-related illnesses....More

'Pervasive' inattention to infection control at Cape Breton hospitals: audit

HALIFAX - Deadly outbreaks of the C. difficile in two Cape Breton hospitals might have been avoided if staff had used proper cleaning methods to prevent the spread of infections, Nova Scotia's auditor general said Wednesday....More

Seven-year-old Regina boy waiting for new liver in Edmonton

REGINA - A seven-year-old Saskatchewan boy is fighting for his life in an Edmonton hospital while he waits for a new liver....More

Newfoundland's largest health board to cut 550 positions to save $43 million

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health board plans to eliminate 550 full-time equivalent positions in an effort to save money. Eastern Health says the job cuts will save about $43 million over the next two years....More

Newfoundland building new facility to help mentally ill youth

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The Newfoundland and Labrador government has broken ground at a site that will eventually become the province's first treatment centre for youth with mental illness. The ceremony took place Monday in Paradise, west of St. John's....More

McGuinty, Smitherman say they didn't see 2004 memo criticizing Ornge agreement

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty says he never saw a memo from a government lawyer who sounded the alarm about Ornge almost eight years ago....More

College told to reconsider decision against mistaken mastectomy doctor

TORONTO - A review board has ruled that a decision that saw a Windsor, Ont., doctor who has performed unnecessary breast surgeries cautioned was unreasonable, saying there is no indication previous complaints against the doctor were considered....More

Canadian poverty has 'child's face:' UNICEF report finds Canada lags others

TORONTO - Canadians should be doing much more for children growing up in poverty, according to a new UNICEF report that finds Canada lags many other advanced countries....More

Appeal in Cape Breton tar ponds lawsuit disappointing, says lawyer

HALIFAX - An appeal in a class-action lawsuit over Cape Breton's notorious tar ponds is disappointing but not surprising after some eight years of legal wrangling, a Halifax lawyer said Tuesday....More

AGING AMERICA: New invasive procedure tested to tame high blood pressure when drugs don't work

WASHINGTON - "Maxed out on the medications" is how Bill Ezzell describes his struggle with blood pressure. It's dangerously high even though the North Carolina man swallows six different drugs a day....More

Bureaucrats warned governing Liberals about Ornge in 2004: documents

TORONTO - New documents suggest the governing Liberals ignored warnings from senior bureaucrats about loosening their control over Ontario's troubled air ambulance service, which is now under a criminal probe for financial irregularities....More

Aging baby boomers to dominate Tuesday's release of fresh 2011 census data

OTTAWA - The next set of data from the 2011 census shouldn't hold many surprises for anyone in Canada — but it no doubt will. On Tuesday, Canadians will discover how old their society has grown....More

Acute care workers at rural hospitals in Nova Scotia ratify three-year deal

NEW GLASGOW, N.S. - Acute care workers at 33 rural hospitals in Nova Scotia have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with the province's district health authorities. The Canadian Union of Public Employees says the agreement includes a 7....More

10 years after study questioning HRT, risks-benefits still coming into focus

TORONTO - A decade after a major study turned the usage of hormone replacement therapy on its ear, the risks and benefits of the once commonly used medication are still coming into focus....More

'Out of sight and locked up tight' advice for preventing kids getting poisoned

TORONTO - After Selina Esteves put her son Hudson to bed one evening and had gone downstairs to help his older brother with homework, she was somewhat surprised the three-year-old had settled to sleep so quickly. She didn't hear a peep out of him....More

Too much screen time, too little playtime for Canadian kids, report card finds

TORONTO - Many Canadian kids are failing to make the grade when it comes to reaching physical activity targets, with too few hours devoted to active play and too much free time fixated on TV, computer and game screens....More

Newfoundland building new facility to help mentally ill youth

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The Newfoundland and Labrador government has broken ground at a site that will eventually become the province's first treatment centre for youth with mental illness. The ceremony took place Monday in Paradise, west of St. John's....More

AGING AMERICA: New invasive procedure tested to tame high blood pressure when drugs don't work

WASHINGTON - "Maxed out on the medications" is how Bill Ezzell describes his struggle with blood pressure. It's dangerously high even though the North Carolina man swallows six different drugs a day....More

New book details Obama's fondness for weed while a Hawaiian high school student

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama inhaled. Frequently, happily and allegedly quite greedily. Various websites published excerpts on Friday from an upcoming book on the U.S....More

Indian gov't ministers in talks over sending toxic chemical waste to Germany for disposal

NEW DELHI - Indian government ministers are considering a plan to have a German company dispose of toxic waste dumped from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, where a chemical gas leak killed thousands in 1984, officials said Friday....More

Ease the pain of guerilla gardening with stretches and proper tools

TORONTO - Lugging bags of potting soil, turning compacted flower beds and pulling hard-to-reach weeds offer plenty of exercise, but when these tasks are done incorrectly they can result in stiff and sore joints along with muscle, neck and back pain....More

'You look fantastic,' Ellen DeGeneres tells beaming Helene Campbell

TORONTO - A beaming Helene Campbell made an Internet appearance on the "The Ellen Show" on Friday, winning a promise for an in-studio appearance as soon as she's well enough to fly....More

Ontario under pressure to have sprinklers in all seniors' homes after fatal fire

TORONTO - Ontario's governing Liberals are under pressure to require sprinklers in all retirement homes after a fire at a seniors' home near Ottawa killed an elderly couple. The couple died Friday after a blaze broke out at a Hawkesbury seniors' home....More

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford ends weight loss drive, says he's no longer dieting

TORONTO - Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says his public drive to lose weight is over. The mayor's "Cut The Waist Challenge" started in January and was supposed to last until mid-June....More

More emergency room closures at Princeton Hospital spark second rally

PRINCETON, B.C. - Just days after residents of B.C.'s Similkameen region rallied against weeknight closures of the Princeton Hospital emergency room, more ER cuts have been announced....More

Aging baby boomers to dominate Tuesday's release of fresh 2011 census data

OTTAWA - The next set of data from the 2011 census shouldn't hold many surprises for anyone in Canada — but it no doubt will. On Tuesday, Canadians will discover how old their society has grown....More

Newfoundland and Labrador to hire consultant to review ambulance service

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The Newfoundland and Labrador government has launched a review of the province's ambulance services. The Conservative government announced Thursday it will hire a consultant to do the work....More

New Zealand raises tobacco taxes sharply, aiming to become smoke-free country

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - There are smoke-free bars, smoke-free parks, even smoke-free college campuses....More

Manitoba paramedics say high workloads must be addressed in government review

WINNIPEG - The union that represents most Manitoba paramedics says its members are struggling with high workloads that must be addressed in a new government review....More

Helene Campbell shows off new lungs with dance; new lease on life a 'miracle'

TORONTO - A young woman whose inspirational advocacy for organ donation has garnered attention around the world gushed with gratitude Thursday at her first public appearance since receiving two lungs seven weeks ago....More

Health officials say unsealed asbestos found in Saskatchewan long-term care home

STRASBOURG, Sask. - Unsealed asbestos has been found in the boiler room and attic of a long-term care home in Strasbourg, Sask....More

Effort to rid world of polio takes another step forward today

Partners in the effort to finally rid the world of polio are taking another step today, launching an emergency action plan strategists hope will propel the long overdue program across the finish line....More

Doctor house calls part of Ontario plan to keep seniors at home longer

TORONTO - The Ontario government has outlined the next step in its strategy to keep seniors in their homes longer....More

Indian gov't ministers in talks over sending toxic chemical waste to Germany for disposal

NEW DELHI - Indian government ministers are considering a plan to have a German company dispose of toxic waste dumped from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, where a chemical gas leak killed thousands in 1984, officials said Friday....More

Mental health: Aglukkaq says deal with stigma before focusing on funding

OTTAWA - Canada needs to deal with the stigma surrounding mental health issues before it can go on to tackle funding questions, says federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq....More

Man who beheaded fellow bus passenger thought victim was an alien: supporter

WINNIPEG - A man who beheaded and cannibalized a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus thought he was attacking an alien, according to a supporter....More

Cervical cancer treatment device recalled; couldn't be fully cleaned

VANCOUVER, B.C., - The BC Cancer Agency is alerting a group of women who were treated for cervical cancer in the province to a problem regarding a piece of equipment that may have been used in their care....More

Sports world grapples with need to both fight and embrace technology

QUEBEC CITY, Que. - The sporting world has found itself stuck in a love-hate relationship with the Internet....More

Manitoba introduces law requiring kids to wear helmets while cycling

WINNIPEG - Manitoba children and teenagers will soon be required to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. The NDP government tabled legislation Wednesday that would require anyone under 18 to don a helmet while cycling....More

Aglukkaq acknowledges Northern food issues, but maintains criticism of UN

OTTAWA - Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says that when she tore a strip off a UN right-to-food envoy last week, she never meant to imply there were no hunger problems in the North....More

New Zealand raises tobacco taxes sharply, aiming to become smoke-free country

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - There are smoke-free bars, smoke-free parks, even smoke-free college campuses....More

Effort to rid world of polio takes another step forward today

Partners in the effort to finally rid the world of polio are taking another step today, launching an emergency action plan strategists hope will propel the long overdue program across the finish line....More

Less invasive scope exam can cut the risk of developing or dying of colon cancer, study finds

A simple, cheaper exam of just the lower part of the bowel can cut the risk of developing colon cancer or dying of the disease, a large federal study finds....More

UK moves to extend free IVF to women up to 42, same-sex couples, cancer patients

LONDON - A powerful health advisory agency says Britain should extend free fertility treatments to women up to age 42 as well as same-sex couples, recommendations likely to be followed by many of the U.K.'s medical centres....More

Transgender Canadians winning a few battles in the war for acceptance

MONTREAL - Canada's transgender community, long plagued by discrimination and bureaucratic obstacles, is now celebrating a series of small but significant victories....More

Rick Hansen named honorary colonel of military support unit

OTTAWA - The Defence Department is marking the 25th anniversary of Rick Hansen's round-the-world wheelchair trek by naming him honorary colonel of its joint personnel support unit....More

Pandemic flu shot linked to lower rates of death, preterm birth in infants

TORONTO - Pregnant women in Ontario who received a flu shot during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic were less likely to give birth to a very preterm baby or to lose their baby shortly after birth, a new study shows....More

Mental health: Aglukkaq says deal with stigma before focusing on funding

OTTAWA - Canada needs to deal with the stigma surrounding mental health issues before it can go on to tackle funding questions, says federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq....More

Man who beheaded fellow bus passenger thought victim was an alien: supporter

WINNIPEG - A man who beheaded and cannibalized a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus thought he was attacking an alien, according to a supporter....More

Cervical cancer treatment device recalled; couldn't be fully cleaned

VANCOUVER, B.C., - The BC Cancer Agency is alerting a group of women who were treated for cervical cancer in the province to a problem regarding a piece of equipment that may have been used in their care....More

Experts to tackle complex childhood obesity 'epidemic' in Ontario

TORONTO - Reducing the "epidemic" of childhood obesity in Ontario by 20 per cent over the next five years is the goal of a new experts panel announced by the government Friday....More

CDC proposing one-time test for hepatitis C for all baby boomers; more than 2 million infected

ATLANTA - For the first time, the government is proposing that all baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C....More

Gills onions and Compliments salads recalled in Listeria scare

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced recalls of Gills brand Fresh Diced Red Onions and Compliments brand salads because of possible Listeria contamination....More

Lung cancer scans advised for older, heavy smokers; no benefit for others, guidelines say

CHICAGO - New lung cancer screening guidelines from three medical groups recommend annual scans but only for an older group of current or former heavy smokers. The advice applies only to those aged 55 to 74....More

U.S. task force recommends against routine PSA screening for prostate cancer

TORONTO - Routinely screening men for prostate cancer with PSA tests can result in far more harm than good, says a U.S. expert panel in a recommendation against the practice that is sure to fuel continued debate over the issue. On Monday, the U.S....More

More than half of overweight and obese adolescents have heart disease risk, CDC study says

ATLANTA - Half the nation's overweight teens have unhealthy blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar levels that put them at risk for future heart attacks and other cardiac problems, new federal research says....More

Less invasive scope exam can cut the risk of developing or dying of colon cancer, study finds

A simple, cheaper exam of just the lower part of the bowel can cut the risk of developing colon cancer or dying of the disease, a large federal study finds....More

Transgender Canadians winning a few battles in the war for acceptance

MONTREAL - Canada's transgender community, long plagued by discrimination and bureaucratic obstacles, is now celebrating a series of small but significant victories....More

New study says Canada leads G8 in keeping promises made at summits

OTTAWA - A new report ranks Canada first when it comes to G8 countries fulfilling pledges made at international summits. The G8 Research group study comes as G8 leaders met Friday at U.S. President Barack Obama's Maryland retreat of Camp David....More

In France autistic kids get psychotherapy; critics slam approach as outdated, unscientific

LONDON - In most developed countries, children with autism are usually sent to school where they get special education classes. But in France, they are more often sent to a psychiatrist where they get talk therapy meant for people with psychological or emotional problems....More

Experts to tackle complex childhood obesity 'epidemic' in Ontario

TORONTO - Reducing the "epidemic" of childhood obesity in Ontario by 20 per cent over the next five years is the goal of a new experts panel announced by the government Friday....More

CDC proposing one-time test for hepatitis C for all baby boomers; more than 2 million infected

ATLANTA - For the first time, the government is proposing that all baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C....More

Gills onions and Compliments salads recalled in Listeria scare

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced recalls of Gills brand Fresh Diced Red Onions and Compliments brand salads because of possible Listeria contamination....More

Certain Gills Onions recalled due to possible Listeria contamination

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says Gills brand Fresh Diced Red Onions are being recalled because of possible Listeria contamination....More

Lung cancer scans advised for older, heavy smokers; no benefit for others, guidelines say

CHICAGO - New lung cancer screening guidelines from three medical groups recommend annual scans but only for an older group of current or former heavy smokers. The advice applies only to those aged 55 to 74....More

More than half of overweight and obese adolescents have heart disease risk, CDC study says

ATLANTA - Half the nation's overweight teens have unhealthy blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar levels that put them at risk for future heart attacks and other cardiac problems, new federal research says....More

'Black Madam' to be tried in Philly after dancer says buttocks injections damaged her lungs

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia woman who calls herself the "Black Madam" was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on allegations she administered illegal buttock-injections, procedures that authorities say caused serious medical problems in at least one case....More

Nova Scotia announces details of review of Halifax psychiatric facility

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's Health Department has released details of a review of a Halifax psychiatric facility that released a patient who was later charged in a fatal assault....More

Liberals blocking work of Ornge committee to save skin: opposition parties

TORONTO - The governing Liberals are trying to sweep the Ornge scandal under the rug by blocking a legislative committee from continuing its probe of the province's troubled air ambulance service, the opposition charged Thursday....More

Ethics panel debates how to develop child protections against anthrax, other bioterror threats

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is asking a presidential commission to help decide an ethical quandary: Should the anthrax vaccine and other treatments being stockpiled in case of a bioterror attack be tested in children? "We can't just assume that...More

Doctors ditching the prescription pad as more than a third of prescriptions now are electronic

WASHINGTON - Dropping a paper prescription at the drugstore is becoming old-school: More than a third of the nation's prescriptions now are electronic, according to the latest count....More

Bus beheader Vince Li wins right to escorted trips into community

WINNIPEG - A man who beheaded and cannibalized a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus in Manitoba has won his bid to leave the grounds of the mental hospital where he is being kept....More

Quality of life across Canada depends on where you live, says study

Canadians are used to hearing their country ranks among the world's best places to live, but new research suggests that quality of life can depend a lot on where you live....More

In France autistic kids get psychotherapy; critics slam approach as outdated, unscientific

LONDON - In most developed countries, children with autism are usually sent to school where they get special education classes. But in France, they are more often sent to a psychiatrist where they get talk therapy meant for people with psychological or emotional problems....More

Ex-Ornge director grilled on executive pay, work history at for-profit firm

TORONTO - A former director of Ornge in charge of compensation is defending the pay packages of top executives at Ontario's troubled air ambulance service....More

Coffee drinkers live longer, big study finds; regular and decaf are equally good

MILWAUKEE - One of life's simple pleasures just got a little sweeter. After years of waffling research on coffee and health, even some fear that java might raise the risk of heart disease, a big study finds the opposite: Coffee drinkers are a little more likely to live longer....More

Antibiotic linked with rare heart-related deaths in study of Medicaid patients

CHICAGO - An antibiotic widely used for bronchitis and other common infections seems to increase chances for sudden deadly heart problems, a rare but surprising risk found in a 14-year study....More

Alzheimer's focus shifts to testing therapies earlier, before patients show many symptoms

WASHINGTON - Look for a fundamental shift in how scientists hunt ways to ward off the devastation of Alzheimer's disease — by testing possible therapies in people who don't yet show many symptoms, before too much of the brain is destroyed....More

Alberta hockey players on ice for 11 days trying to best world record

CHESTERMERE, Alta. - Amateur hockey players in southern Alberta were nearing the end Wednesday of an 11-day marathon game to make it into the Guinness World Record book....More

Agriculture Department study concludes that eating healthy is less expensive than junk food

WASHINGTON - Is it really more expensive to eat healthy? A new Agriculture Department study counters a common perception that junk food is cheaper than a nutritionally balanced meal. It all depends on how prices are measured....More

'Black Madam' to be tried in Philly after dancer says buttocks injections damaged her lungs

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia woman who calls herself the "Black Madam" was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on allegations she administered illegal buttock-injections, procedures that authorities say caused serious medical problems in at least one case....More

Doctors ditching the prescription pad as more than a third of prescriptions now are electronic

WASHINGTON - Doctors increasingly are ditching the prescription pad: More than a third of the nation's prescriptions now are electronic, according to the latest count....More

New Brunswick health officials say E. coli source no longer in food supply

FREDERICTON - Health officials in New Brunswick say they believe the source of a recent E. coli outbreak has passed through the food supply chain and is no longer a risk to the public. There have been 13 confirmed cases of people with E....More

National Alzheimer's Plan aims to slow threat of the mind-destroying disease, help families

Alzheimer's disease is a growing threat as the population gets older. Already, more than 5 million Americans have the mind-destroying disease. Barring some research breakthroughs, up to 16 million may have it by 2050....More

Doctors' group urges physicians to look outside Ontario due to labour woes

TORONTO - Ontario doctors embroiled in a fight with the Liberal government over cuts to their fees and a proposed wage freeze were advised Tuesday to start looking elsewhere for employment....More

Combatting chlorine: Wet hair, damp skin can leave swimmers feeling dry

TORONTO - Olympic viewers are bound to be inspired as they watch the world's best swimmers vie for gold at the upcoming Summer Games in London....More

Clock ticking as Alzheimer's strategy sets 2025 goal for better ways to treat, stall, disease

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration declared Alzheimer's one of the country's biggest health challenges on Tuesday, adopting a national strategy that sets the clock ticking toward better treatments by 2025 — along with help for suffering families today....More

Banning tanning: Quebec law would bar minors from grilling themselves in salons

QUEBEC - Quebec teens looking to show off a golden salon tan at their prom will soon be out of luck thanks to new legislation tabled Tuesday....More

UN finds high blood pressure, high glucose - signs that diseases of affluence are spreading

GENEVA - A quarter of those 25 or older now have high blood pressure worldwide, and almost one in 10 has worrying levels of glucose in their blood....More

Alzheimer's focus shifts to testing therapies earlier, before patients show many symptoms

WASHINGTON - Look for a fundamental shift in how scientists hunt ways to ward off the devastation of Alzheimer's disease — by testing possible therapies in people who don't yet show many symptoms, before too much of the brain is destroyed....More

Grill with gusto: Asparagus with vinaigrette, chipotle cheeseburger, honey glaze

If you're planning to host a barbecue, here are some recipes to prepare for family and guests. A delicious way to enjoy vegetables is to grill them, which adds so much to the flavour....More

Free flu shot program missing under 2s; 'vaccine fatigue' may be to blame

TORONTO - Ontario's universal flu shot program isn't making much progress with the under-two crowd, a new study suggests....More

Flesh-eating bacteria cases occur about 750 times a year, but Georgia woman's especially rare

ATLANTA - Aimee Copeland, a Georgia grad student, is fighting for her life because of the flesh-eating bacteria that infected her after she gashed her leg in a river two weeks ago....More

Clean, cook, separate and chill to keep family, friends safe during grilling season

TORONTO - The days of relaxed entertaining with families and friends gathering around backyard barbecues are upon us. But outdoor cooking can have health risks if certain steps are not taken, say public health officials....More

Blue Jays starter Morrow and singer Canyon urge diabetic kids to chase dreams

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - When Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow threw a brilliant three-hit complete game against the Los Angeles Angels on May 3, earning his second career shutout, he couldn't just focus on searing fastballs and wipeout sliders....More

B.C. First Nation to discuss state of emergency over recent suicides

DUNCAN, B.C. - Leaders of a Vancouver Island First Nation are planning to hold a news conference this morning to discuss a rash of suicides that has prompted them to declare a state of emergency. The Cowichan Tribes, located in Duncan, B.C....More

1 in 3 young adults with autism lack jobs, education; they fare worse than other disabled kids

CHICAGO - One in 3 young adults with autism have no paid job experience, college or technical schooling nearly seven years after high school graduation, a study finds....More

Clock ticking as Alzheimer's strategy sets 2025 goal for better ways to treat, stall, disease

WASHINGTON - The clock is ticking: The first National Alzheimer's Plan sets a deadline of 2025 to finally find effective ways to treat, or at least stall, the mind-destroying disease....More

Two lung transplant patient Helene Campbell out of hospital, back on treadmill

TORONTO - Helene Campbell is back at her “home away from home” in Toronto....More

Sunscreen confusion won't end soon: FDA gives makers 6 more months to comply with label rules

WASHINGTON - Sunscreen confusion won't be over before summer after all. The government is bowing to industry requests for more time to make clear how much protection their lotions really offer....More

HEALTHBEAT: Forget Time magazine cover; real issue in breast-feeding is too many stop before 1

WASHINGTON - The real issue with breast-feeding is this: Too few infants who could really benefit from it are getting mom's milk. Sure, Time magazine's cover photo of a woman breast-feeding her 3-year-old is generating debate about how old is too old....More

B.C. First Nation declares state of emergency over recent suicides

VANCOUVER - Leaders of a Vancouver Island First Nation have declared a state of emergency over a recent spate of suicides and attempted suicides. The Cowichan Tribes, located in Duncan, B.C....More

Free flu shot program missing under 2s; 'vaccine fatigue' may be to blame

TORONTO - Ontario's universal flu shot program isn't making much progress with the under-two crowd, a new study suggests....More

Blue Jays starter Morrow and singer Canyon urge diabetic kids to chase dreams

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - When Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow threw a brilliant three-hit complete game against the Los Angeles Angels on May 3, earning his second career shutout, he couldn't just focus on searing fastballs and wipeout sliders....More

B.C. First Nation to discuss state of emergency over recent suicides

DUNCAN, B.C. - Leaders of a Vancouver Island First Nation are planning to hold a news conference this morning to discuss a rash of suicides that has prompted them to declare a state of emergency. The Cowichan Tribes, located in Duncan, B.C....More

1 in 3 young adults with autism lack jobs, education; they fare worse than other disabled kids

CHICAGO - One in 3 young adults with autism have no paid job experience, college or technical schooling nearly seven years after high school graduation, a study finds....More

Saskatchewan toddler strapped to back of ATV survives underwater plunge

HUDSON BAY, Sask. - A toddler is being treated in hospital after the ATV he was strapped to flipped upside down in a slough in east central Saskatchewan, trapping him underwater. RCMP Cpl....More

Ontario to hire 900 more nurses in 2012, focus on home and community care

TORONTO - Ontario will hire an additional 900 nurses this year and focus their efforts on nursing homes and community-based care....More

No excuses for Ornge's failure to respond to fatal collision, critics say

TORONTO - It's clear air ambulance services in Ontario haven't improved since the government cleaned house at Ornge and installed new leadership, opposition critics charged Thursday....More

Licensed practical nurses to vote on switching to B.C. Nurses Union

VANCOUVER - The B.C. Nurses Union has won the latest battle in a bitter war to represent the province's licensed practical nurses. The Labour Relations Board confirms a majority of B.C.'s estimated 6,000 LPNs have signed cards with the BCNU....More

Half of young adults get sunburned, study says; experts say skin-cancer warnings are ignored

ATLANTA - Half of U.S. adults under 30 say they have had a sunburn at least once in the past year, a government survey found — a sign young people aren't heeding the warnings about skin cancer....More

Double-lung transplant Helene Campbell back in hospital

TORONTO - Helene Campbell, the 21-year-old Ottawa woman recovering from a double-lung transplant, is back in Toronto General Hospital after experiencing shortness of breath....More

CDC: Young adults are ignoring skin-cancer warnings, getting sunburned;

ATLANTA - The warnings about skin cancer from too much sun don't seem to be getting through. Half of U.S....More

CDC: Young adults are ignoring skin-cancer warnings, getting sunburned;

ATLANTA - The warnings about skin cancer from too much sun don't seem to be getting through. Half of U.S....More

Ontario taxpayers aren't on the hook for Ornge's debts: top bureaucrat

TORONTO - Ontario taxpayers aren't on the hook for Ornge's debts, even though the government is virtually the only source of revenue for the troubled air ambulance service, a senior bureaucrat said Wednesday....More

Kids' physical activity helps power online game in fitness pilot project

TORONTO, Canada` - Jurmaine Dowe detaches his digital pedometer and inserts it into the docking station, and it's not long before a flurry of colourful graphics pop up and saturate the computer screen....More

Israeli President Peres visits Ontario premier; topics include cranes, brains

TORONTO - Israeli President Shimon Peres is getting an eyeful of Toronto's building boom as he meets with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty today....More

Health Canada cautions doctors, patients about metal-on-metal hip implants

TORONTO - Health Canada has issued new advice for doctors on how to manage patients with metal-on-metal hip implants. And the department is also alerting patients with the implants of trouble signs associated with the devices....More

FDA: When kids really need medical scans, they shouldn't get an adult-sized dose of radiation

WASHINGTON - When your child's doctor orders a CT scan, X-ray or similar test, there are two big questions: Is the scan really needed? And if so, will it deliver a child-sized or adult-sized dose of radiation? That's the message from the Food and Drug...More

Cancer claims fewer Canadian lives; drop in male lung cancer death drives decline

TORONTO - The death toll cancer takes in Canada is on the decline, fuelled in large part by the fact that lung cancer is killing fewer Canadian men than it did in earlier decades, the Canadian Cancer Society said Wednesday....More

Better brain research will make a better world: Israeli President Shimon Peres

TORONTO - To hear Israeli President Shimon Peres tell it, broader brain research is vital to a better future....More

Double-lung transplant Helene Campbell back in hospital

TORONTO - Helene Campbell, the 21-year-old Ottawa woman recovering from a double-lung transplant, is back in Toronto General Hospital after experiencing shortness of breath....More

Report calls schools key to fighting obesity epidemic but says changes are needed society-wide

WASHINGTON - Fighting obesity will require changes everywhere Americans live, work, play and learn, says a major new report that outlines dozens of options — from building more walkable neighbourhoods to zoning limits on fast-food restaurants to selling healthier snacks in...More

Pells chronicles triumph over adversity while dealing with alcoholic mother

COQUITLAM, B.C. - On the outside, she was a confident aspiring Olympic middle-distance runner. But for years, a storm raged within Leah Pells....More

Ottawa welcomes mental health strategy, but will federal funding follow?

OTTAWA - Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq is officially welcoming the country's first national mental health strategy, although it's unclear what role Ottawa will take in its implementation....More

NDP want to force Ontario chain restaurants to list calories, sodium on menus

TORONTO - Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to nutrition, NDP health critic France Gelinas said Tuesday as she again introduced a bill to force chain restaurants to put calorie counts on their menus....More

Health Canada reminds Canadians of importance of food allergy awareness

OTTAWA - It doesn't take much to trigger a reaction in someone with a food allergy — ingesting a tiny piece of peanut or unknowingly eating pasta containing shrimp in a restaurant. In someone with a severe allergy to these items, this can be life-threatening....More

Bacteria believed to have made dozens sick after roast beef dinner in P.E.I.

CHARLOTTETOWN - Health officials in P.E.I. say they have received the results of food samples taken after a roast beef dinner left more than 200 people ill....More

FDA takes steps to help ensure kids don't get unnecessary radiation from common medical tests

WASHINGTON - The government is taking steps to help ensure that children who need CT scans and other X-ray-based tests don't get an adult-sized dose of radiation....More

Cancer claims fewer Canadian lives; drop in male lung cancer death drives decline

TORONTO, Canada` - The death toll cancer takes in Canada is on the decline, fuelled in large part by the fact that lung cancer is killing fewer Canadian men than it did in earlier decades, the Canadian Cancer Society said Wednesday....More

Ontario cutting hundreds of OHIP fees paid to doctors as talks reach standstill

TORONTO - Several hundred fees paid to Ontario doctors are going under the knife as the province's minority Liberals forge ahead with a wage freeze for physicians after labour negotiations fell apart last week....More

Judge certifies class action suit against Brantford school for the blind

TORONTO - The Ontario Superior Court has certified a class action lawsuit launched by former students of a school for the blind in Brantford. Madam Justice Carolyn Horkins granted the certification for the class action against W....More

Blueprint to improve mental-health care looks to cancer for inspiration

OTTAWA - Planners at the Mental Health Commission of Canada are looking at the fight against cancer as an inspiration for their new campaign....More

Americans still getting fatter; forecast predicts jump in severe obesity over next 20 years

WASHINGTON - The obesity epidemic may be slowing, but don't take in those pants yet. Today, just over a third of U.S. adults are obese. By 2030, 42 per cent will be, says a forecast released Monday....More

AGING AMERICA: 1 in 7 Alzheimer's patients lives alone, creating balancing act for families

WASHINGTON - Elaine Vlieger is making some concessions to Alzheimer's. She's cut back on her driving, frozen dinners replace once elaborate cooking, and a son monitors her finances. But the Colorado woman lives alone and isn't ready to give up her house or her independence....More

Specialists debate solutions to America's weight problem - from exercise to better kids' meals

WASHINGTON - In the battle against obesity, just about everything is on the table, from creating healthier kids' meals to nagging people to exercise....More

Save the Children ranks Canada as the 19th best place in the world to be a mom

TORONTO - Canada has moved up a notch this year in Save the Children's 13th State of the World's Mothers report. Canada is ranked the 19th best place in the world to be a mother, up one spot from last year's ranking....More

Report calls schools key to fighting obesity epidemic but says changes are needed society-wide

WASHINGTON - A new report says schools should be a cornerstone of the nation's obesity battle. But to trim Americans' waistlines, changes are needed everywhere people live, work, play and learn....More

Study: Test-tube babies not at higher risk of birth defects unless sperm injection is used

Test-tube babies have higher rates of birth defects, and doctors have long wondered: Is it because of certain fertility treatments or infertility itself? A large new study from Australia suggests both may play a role....More

Seven fired after privacy breach at Peterborough, Ont., hospital

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - A Peterborough, Ont., hospital says it has fired seven employees over a privacy breach involving patient information....More

Officials have 'leads' in search for source of New Brunswick E. coli outbreak

FREDERICTON - Health officials in New Brunswick say they have some leads in their search for the source of an E. coli outbreak that they believe has left people ill in three communities....More

Double-lung recipient Helene Campbell discharged from hospital

TORONTO - The Ottawa woman who had a double-lung transplant last month is out of the hospital. Helene Campbell tweeted about leaving hospital just before midnight Friday....More

Tough labour negotiations between Ontario doctors and government reach impasse

TORONTO - Tense labour negotiations between the minority Liberals and Ontario's doctors appear to have reached an impasse. Health Minister Deb Matthews is expected to provide an update Monday about the talks, which stalled late last week....More

Some facts about the cost of mental illness to Canadians

A new national mental health strategy for Canada will be released this week. Here's a look at the mental health issue by the numbers: — In any given year, one in five people in Canada has a mental health problem or illness....More

Canada's first-ever mental health strategy will pressure Harper to act

OTTAWA - Canada is about to get its first-ever national mental health strategy — a massive report that may persuade Prime Minister Stephen Harper that his government must return Ottawa to a lead role on health care....More

AGING AMERICA: 1 in 7 Alzheimer's patients lives alone, creating balancing act for families

WASHINGTON - Elaine Vlieger is making some concessions to Alzheimer's. She's cut back on her driving, frozen dinners replace once elaborate cooking, and a son monitors her finances. But the Colorado woman lives alone and isn't ready to give up her house or her independence....More

Ontario expanding program asking drivers to join organ donor registry

TORONTO - Ontario drivers will now be asked at the licensing counter if they want to be organ donors. The province already mails out organ donor consent forms when someone renews their driver's licence or health card....More

Nova Scotia law would measure hospital hand washing to improve patient safety

HALIFAX - All Nova Scotia health authorities would have to report hand washing rates to the province's Health Department and make them public under legislation proposed Thursday....More

NIH, pharmaceutical giants partner in program to try turning old drugs into new treatments

WASHINGTON - Three pharmaceutical giants are unlocking their freezers to see if government-funded scientists can reinvent some of their old drugs. Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly & Co....More

New hospital should be built, others closed: Niagara Health System report

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The provincially appointed supervisor of the Niagara Health System is calling for a new hospital in South Niagara in a restructuring that would close four other facilities....More

Guides meant to teach youth and adults about concussion, raise awareness

TORONTO - Brain-injury experts have put together two resource guides to educate Canadian kids and adults about concussion....More

Giggles, M.D.: the life of a medical clown

MONTREAL - Nimrod Eisenberg never wanted to enter the family business — medicine. He went to theatre school against his parents' wishes....More

Cancer drug may be linked to second cancers, Health Canada warns

TORONTO - The maker of a drug used to treat people with anemia as well as a form of cancer is warning that new cancers have been reported in a small number of people who have taken the drug. Health Canada and the manufacturer, Celgene Inc....More

Alberta Health Services making marginal improvements, more needs to be done

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. - The Alberta government says it is making marginal improvements in delivering some key health services, but critics say it isn't enough....More

Former NHLer Gary Roberts prolonged career thanks to lifestyle change

TORONTO - Gary Roberts looked in the mirror one morning and didn't like what he saw. Staring back at him was a 30-year-old, retired and unhappy hockey player. It was at that moment he realized a change was needed....More

Three mutations might give hybrid bird flu virus ability to transmit to humans: study

A bird flu study that was blocked from publication for months after biosecurity experts questioned if it was unsafe to put it in the public domain has finally been published....More

New Facebook feature draws thousands to sign up as organ donors

ATLANTA - Thousands of Facebook users have signed up to be organ donors this week, thanks to a new feature on the social networking site that makes it easier to register....More

New count: 15 million of world's babies born premature; US rate higher than similar countries

WASHINGTON - About 15 million premature babies are born every year — more than 1 in 10 of the world's births and a bigger problem than previously believed, according to the first country-by-country estimates of this obstetric epidemic....More

More than 100 charged in massive Medicare fraud busts in 7 cities in scams totalling $455 mil

MIAMI - Federal authorities charged 107 doctors, nurses and social workers in seven cities with Medicare fraud Tuesday in a nationwide crackdown on unrelated scams that allegedly bilked the taxpayer-funded program of $452 million — the highest dollar amount in a single...More

Hiring of ousted CEO's girlfriend under scrutiny at Ornge committee

TORONTO - The girlfriend of ousted Ornge CEO Chris Mazza has defended her quick climb up the corporate ladder at Ontario's troubled air ambulance service, which saw her rise from communications officer to junior executive in five years....More

Controversial bird flu transmission study takes long path to publication

A contested bird flu study was finally published Wednesday. The paper, by flu virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, reports on how Kawaoka and his team made an H5N1 hybrid that transmits efficiently among mammals....More

After controversy over bioterrorism, first of 2 papers on man-made bird flu viruses published

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Four months ago the U.S. government sought to block publication of two studies about how scientists created an easily spread form of bird flu. Now a revised version of one paper is seeing the light of day with the government's blessing....More

Number of US newborns with drug withdrawal rises as more mothers abuse painkillers, heroin

CHICAGO - Less than a month old, Savannah Dannelley scrunches her tiny face into a scowl as a nurse gently squirts a dose of methadone into her mouth....More

Number of suicides in military rises as troops return home from Afghanistan

OTTAWA - The number of suicides in the Canadian military rose last year as thousands of soldiers returned home from the battlefields of Afghanistan....More

Kids should take 12,000 steps daily to maintain physical activity levels: study

TORONTO - Counting the clicks on a pedometer can help parents ensure that kids are meeting their daily physical activity targets, a new Canadian-led study suggests....More

Codeine use by new moms doesn't up risk of death, hospitalization of infants: study

TORONTO - A new study disputes the suggestion that babies exposed to codeine through their mothers' breast milk are at higher risk of dying or being admitted to hospital....More

Two dozen fall ill after eating community meal at P.E.I. church

MALPEQUE, P.E.I. - About two dozen people in eastern P.E.I. have fallen ill after sharing a community meal at a church in Malpeque....More

Olympics bound? Check your measles vaccination status before you go

VANCOUVER - People planning to travel to the London Olympics are being reminded to make sure their measles vaccination is up to date. The B.C....More

No more smokes in Manitoba pharmacies, vending machines

WINNIPEG - Manitoba smokers may soon have fewer places to buy cigarettes. The provincial government has tabled a bill that would prohibit the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies, health-care facilities and from vending machines....More

Former NHLer Gary Roberts prolonged career thanks to lifestyle change

TORONTO - Gary Roberts looked in the mirror one morning and didn't like what he saw. Staring back at him was a 30-year-old, retired and unhappy hockey player. It was at that moment he realized a change was needed....More

Some tips for pacifier use

The Canadian Paediatric Society offers these tips to parents on pacifier use: —Avoid using a pacifier until breastfeeding is established. However, premature or sick babies in the hospital may benefit from using one for comfort....More

Pros and cons of pacifiers can leave parents pondering what's best for baby

Whether it's referred to as a soother, dummy, binkie or bo-bo, new parents can feel conflicted over whether using a pacifier is the best thing for baby....More

Number of US newborns with drug withdrawal rises as more mothers abuse painkillers, heroin

CHICAGO - Less than a month old, Savannah Dannelley scrunches her tiny face into a scowl as a nurse gently squirts a dose of methadone into her mouth....More

Number of suicides in military rises as troops return home from Afghanistan

OTTAWA - The number of suicides in the Canadian military rose last year as thousands of soldiers returned home from the battlefields of Afghanistan....More

Kids should take 12,000 steps daily to maintain physical activity levels: study

TORONTO - Counting the clicks on a pedometer can help parents ensure that kids are meeting their daily physical activity targets, a new Canadian-led study suggests....More

Codeine use by new moms doesn't up risk of death, hospitalization of infants: Study

TORONTO - A new study says babies born to nursing women who fill prescriptions for codeine after childbirth are not at higher risk of dying or being readmitted to hospital than infants whose mothers don't take the drug....More

Codeine use by new moms doesn't up risk of death, hospitalization of infants: study

TORONTO - A new study disputes the suggestion that babies exposed to codeine through their mothers' breast milk are at higher risk of dying or being admitted to hospital....More

Two dozen fall ill after eating community meal at P.E.I. church

MALPEQUE, P.E.I. - About two dozen people in eastern P.E.I. have fallen ill after sharing a community meal at a church in Malpeque....More