Health Canada should delay approval of generic OxyContin, health ministers say

HALIFAX - Provincial health ministers are calling on Ottawa to delay the approval of a generic form of OxyContin....More

Former Saskatchewan lieutenant-governor Sylvia Fedoruk was medical pioneer

REGINA - Former Saskatchewan lieutenant-governor Sylvia Fedoruk has died. The Saskatchewan government says she died Wednesday night, but gave no immediate cause of death....More

Fees going up for long-term care homes in Alberta by five per cent

EDMONTON - The Alberta government is raising accommodation charges for residents of long-term care facilities by five per cent beginning Jan. 1....More

Doctors group calls on Ottawa to rethink cuts to refugee health program

TORONTO - Pregnant women and their babies are among those experiencing the worst fallout from Ottawa's decision to scale back funding for refugee health care, says a group of doctors protesting changes to the program....More

'Sex selection abortion' played a role in supporting pro-life motion: Ambrose

OTTAWA - Facing calls for her job and accused by the NDP of betraying the women she represents at the federal cabinet table, a defiant Rona Ambrose stood in the House of Commons to explain why she voted in support of a pro-life motion. Sort of....More

Bats, camels or goats? Animals under suspicion in hunt for source of new virus related to SARS

LONDON - Britain's Health Protection Agency has published an early genetic sequence of the new respiratory virus related to SARS that shows it is most closely linked to bat viruses, and scientists say camels, sheep or goats might end up being implicated too....More

Bats, camels or goats? Animals under suspicion in hunt for source of new virus related to SARS

LONDON - Britain's Health Protection Agency says an early genetic sequence of the new respiratory virus related to SARS shows it is most closely related to bat viruses....More

4,000 German children sickened in outbreak of suspected food-borne vomiting virus

BERLIN - German health authorities say at least 4,000 children have fallen ill with vomiting and diarrhea after eating food from school canteens and daycare centres....More

Key ingredient in "bath salts" to be treated like cocaine, heroin

OTTAWA - The federal government is banning a key ingredient found in the street drug known as bath salts. The compound, called MDPV, will now be treated the same as cocaine or heroin....More

Finance minister admits Ontario risks courts striking down wage freeze bill

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government is confident legislation to impose a wage freeze on nearly 500,000 public sector workers will withstand court challenges, but there is a "very real risk" it could be struck down, admitted Finance Minister Dwight Duncan....More

Doctors' warnings that patient unfit to drive cuts risk of injury from crash: study

TORONTO - Patients warned by their doctors to avoid getting behind the wheel due to medical conditions that could make them unfit to drive appear to have a reduced risk of serious road crashes, a study suggests....More

Bizarre case involving man with many tumours could lead to customized treatments

It's a medical nightmare: a 24-year-old man endures 350 surgeries since childhood to remove growths that keep coming back in his throat and have spread to his lungs, threatening his life....More

B.C. reaches contract with nurses, includes wage increase

VICTORIA - British Columbia's nurses have reached a tentative agreement with the provincial government that includes a small wage increase, a smooth spot in an otherwise rocky set of public sector negotiations that have already seen several one-day strikes and other job action....More

AP-GfK Poll: Most say Obama's health care law will be implemented; but 7 in 10 expect changes

WASHINGTON - They may not like it, but they don't see it going away. About 7 in 10 Americans think President Barack Obama's health care law will go fully into effect with some changes, ranging from minor to major alterations, an Associated Press-GfK poll finds....More

WHO advises doctors worldwide to be on alert for new virus related to SARS

LONDON - Global health officials have alerted doctors to be on the lookout for new cases of a virus related to SARS but said there was no sign the disease was behaving like the killer respiratory syndrome that killed hundreds in 2003....More

Should older drivers quit? Families key in wrenching decision, need docs, better tests to help

WASHINGTON - Families may have to watch for dings in the car and plead with an older driver to give up the keys — but there's new evidence that doctors could have more of an influence on one of the most wrenching decisions facing a rapidly aging population....More

Meat, tofu among recommended iron-rich foods for Canadian babies

TORONTO - Meat and tofu are joining the list of recommended first foods for Canadian babies. The recommendations are part of a joint statement from the Infant Feeding Joint Working Group....More

Knee replacement operations soar among older folks; joint-damaging obesity among reasons

CHICAGO - Just like age-defying baby boomers, older folks have seen a surge in knee replacement surgeries, driven partly by a desire to stay active and by joint-damaging obesity....More

Ex-convict, HIV/AIDS advocacy groups ask court for prison needle exchanges

OTTAWA - A former prisoner infected with hepatitis C is suing the federal government over its refusal to allow clean-needle exchanges inside prisons....More

Danone to settle lawsuit over Activia yogurt, DanActive health claims

BOUCHERVILLE, Que. - The Canadian division of yogurt-maker Danone has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit that challenged health claims made about two of its leading products. The suit, launched in October 2009, questioned the way Danone Inc....More

Alberta XL Foods plant involved in ground beef recall can't export to the U.S.

The Alberta plant involved in a sweeping recall of ground beef products because of E. coli contamination concerns is not allowed to ship meat to the U.S. The U.S....More

Ontario Liberals to unveil details of wage-freeze legislation for public sector

TORONTO - Ontario's governing Liberals will unveil a plan today to force restraint in public sector compensation....More

MPs to debate motion to examine when human life begins

OTTAWA - Members of Parliament vote today on a controversial motion that would reopen the abortion debate. Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth insists his private member’s bill is not about criminalizing abortion....More

AP-GfK Poll: Most say Obama's health care law will be implemented; but 7 in 10 expect changes

WASHINGTON - They may not like it, but they don't see it going away. About 7 in 10 Americans think President Barack Obama's health care law will go fully into effect with some changes, ranging from minor to major alterations, an Associated Press-GfK poll finds....More

More leadership responsibility correlates to lower stress hormone levels: study

TORONTO - Rising through the ranks at work may offer more benefits than a bump in pay or bigger office: new research suggests leaders with more responsibility have lower stress hormone levels than peers with less on their plates....More

Manitoba government appears set to ban cosmetic use of pesticides on lawns

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's conservation minister has all but confirmed there will be a ban on the cosmetic use of lawn pesticides. Gord Mackintosh says studies have shown pesticides pose a health risk to children and pregnant women....More

Manitoba adding 120 drugs for stroke prevention, cancer, diabetes to pharmacare

WINNIPEG - Manitoba is adding 120 drugs to pharmacare. Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced today that the drugs include medications for stroke prevention, psoriasis and hepatitis C and diabetes testing supplies....More

Housing the homeless is cheaper, more humane than status quo: study

OTTAWA - A new study suggests it's far cheaper to give a homeless person a place to live than to provide a patchwork of emergency services....More

Housing the homeless is cheaper, more effective than status quo: study

OTTAWA - A new study says there's a consensus forming on how to fix one of the most stubborn social problems: homelessness....More

Dandelion don't: Manitoba appears set to ban cosmetic use of pesticides on lawns

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's conservation minister has all but confirmed there will be a ban on lawn pesticides to control dandelions and other weeds, although the extent of the prohibition is still being worked out....More

Bounce them: Doctors nix backyard trampolines, say they pose injury risk

TORONTO - Just as kids love to bounce on beds, they are also drawn to the joy of jumping on trampolines — a pastime that has likely become more popular since Canadian Rosie MacLennan clinched gold in the Olympic version of the sport....More

RCMP asked to probe First Nations health centre over mismanagement allegations

OTTAWA - The RCMP was asked to investigate a First Nations health centre in the Maritimes over allegations half a million dollars that came from contribution agreements signed with the federal government was misappropriated, The Canadian Press has learned....More

Sky's the limit? Report alleges nursing station used medical flights to shop

OTTAWA - Staff at a remote First Nations nursing station arranged expensive emergency medical flights — on the federal government's dime — to go grocery shopping in a more populated community, a newly released document alleges....More

Outbreak of new coronavirus - same family as SARS - has WHO on alert

The World Health Organization is keeping a close eye on a disease outbreak in Saudi Arabia caused by a virus in the same family as the one that caused SARS....More

Full gene analysis finds 4 major classes of breast cancer; hints for future treatments

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Scientists reported Sunday that they have completed a major analysis of the genetics of breast cancer, finding four major classes of the disease. They hope their work will lead to more effective treatments, perhaps with some drugs already in use....More

WHO monitoring SARS-like virus in 2 men who had travelled in Saudi Arabia; 1 has died

LONDON - The World Health Organization said Monday it is too soon to say whether there could be an outbreak of a SARS-like killer respiratory disease after health officials in Britain announced they detected a related virus in a severely ill patient from the Middle East....More

WHO monitoring new virus from same family as SARS in Saudi Arabia; 2 cases known reported

British health authorities have alerted the U.N. of a new respiratory virus in a severely ill patient from Qatar. The man was sickened by a coronavirus, which causes most common colds but also causes SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome....More

WHO monitoring new virus from same family as SARS in Saudi Arabia, 2 cases reported

LONDON - British health authorities have alerted the U.N. of a new respiratory virus that resembles SARS in a severely ill patient who recently travelled to Saudi Arabia — where another man died of a similar illness earlier this year....More

Housing the homeless is cheaper, more humane than status quo: study

OTTAWA - A new study suggests it's far cheaper to give a homeless person a place to live than to provide a patchwork of emergency services....More

Bounce them: Doctors nix backyard trampolines, say they pose injury risk

TORONTO - Just as kids love to bounce on beds, they are also drawn to the joy of jumping on trampolines — a pastime that has likely become more popular since Canadian Rosie MacLennan clinched gold in the Olympic version of the sport....More

IUDs, implants are best birth control methods for teenage girls, doctors group says

CHICAGO - Teenage girls may prefer the pill, the patch or even wishful thinking, but their doctors should be recommending IUDs or hormonal implants — long-lasting and more effective birth control that you don't have to remember to use every time, the nation's leading...More

High Court rejects move to keep comatose Edmonton girl on life support

EDMONTON - A decision by the Supreme Court of Canada has cleared the way for doctors to take a two-year-old Edmonton girl allegedly abused by her parents off the breathing machine that is keeping her alive....More

Federal Tories treat wind different than oilsands: developer

OTTAWA - A wind power developer says the federal government is treating his industry differently than it treats other energy sources such as the oilsands. Last summer, Health Minister Leona Aglukaak announced a $1....More

B.C. anesthesiologists ask to join private health-care case, citing wait times

VANCOUVER - A group of B.C. anesthesiologists is asking to join a constitutional challenge of the province's ban on private health care, but they insist they aren't taking a position about whether there should be more for-profit care....More

Almost a third of kids are overweight, with prevalence higher for boys: study

TORONTO - Almost a third of Canadian children are either overweight or obese, says a report from Statistics Canada that bases its figures on the World Health Organization method of determining ideal weights for youth around the globe....More

Abused Edmonton girl, 2, dies at hospital after being taken off life support

EDMONTON - A two-year-old Edmonton girl allegedly abused by her parents has died after the Supreme Court of Canada rejected a request to keep her on life support....More

Nation's largest cancer hospital, in Texas, plans 'moonshot' against 8 forms of the disease

The nation's largest cancer centre is launching a massive "moonshot" effort against eight specific forms of the disease, similar to the all-out push for space exploration 50 years ago....More

'Ick factor' not withstanding, patients would accept fecal transplants: survey

TORONTO - The grossness notwithstanding, people would likely agree to undergo a fecal transplant if they were suffering from persistent C. difficile diarrhea, a new study suggests....More

Pool of physicians to be created to serve ER shifts in rural Nova Scotia

HALIFAX - A pool of physicians available to fill emergency room shifts in rural Nova Scotia will be created under a program announced today....More

Oral drug shows promise for relapsing-remitting MS, studies find

TORONTO - Two major patient trials of an experimental drug for the relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis have found the oral medication significantly improves patients' symptoms....More

Medical apps promote patient self-care, could ease burden on health system

TORONTO - When Sara Nita's son Marcus was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last fall, she began keeping a written log of his multiple daily blood-sugar readings....More

Cut speed limit to 40 km/h in built-up areas to save pedestrians, report urges

TORONTO - Lowering speed limit on streets in built-up areas would significantly cut down on the scores of pedestrians killed every year in Ontario, a report released Wednesday concludes....More

B.C. health minister announces partial thaw of frozen university drug research

VICTORIA - Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid says she's thawing some of the drug research projects that were frozen after five government employees were fired following an irregularities investigation. MacDiarmid says drug research contracts with B.C....More

B.C. anesthesiologists ask to join private health-care case, citing wait times

VANCOUVER - A group of B.C. anesthesiologists is asking to join a constitutional challenge of the province's ban on private health care, but they insist they aren't taking a position about whether there should be more for-profit care....More

Alberta's top court upholds ruling that girl should be removed from life support

EDMONTON - Alberta's top court has upheld a judge's ruling that a two-year-old child allegedly abused by her parents should be taken off life support....More

'Bingo will go to heaven:' sick Manitoba dog with life-giving bark put down

SHILO, Man. - A Manitoba boy who has life-threatening seizures has had to say goodbye to his specially trained dog — a friend and companion who saved the youngster's life on many occasions....More

Nova Scotia vows to tighten psychiatric hospital releases after activist's death

HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government is promising to act on a review that found "significant gaps" in controls placed on patients who are given temporary release from a Halifax psychiatric hospital following the beating death of a local gay activist....More

Medical apps promote patient self-care, could ease burden on health system

TORONTO - When Sara Nita's son Marcus was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last fall, she began keeping a written log of his multiple daily blood-sugar readings....More

Lung transplant recipient now has Facebook behind her organ donor campaign

OTTAWA - An organ donation campaign started by a feisty young Ottawa double-lung transplant recipient now has new friends — a lot of them....More

How fat are we? By 2030, more than half of residents in 39 US states predicted to be obese

NEW YORK, N.Y. - We Americans already know how fat we are. Can it get much worse? Apparently, yes, according to an advocacy group that predicts that by 2030 more than half the people in the vast majority of states will be obese....More

Group predicts more than half in 39 states will be obese by 2030, higher than govt forecast

NEW YORK, N.Y. - A group campaigning against obesity predicts that by 2030 more than half the people in 39 states will be obese — not merely overweight, but obese....More

Government-ordered review of Halifax psychiatric facility to be released

HALIFAX - A review of a Halifax psychiatric facility that released a patient who was later charged in a fatal assault will be made public today....More

eHealth cancels $46.2M diabetes registry contract; no money spent, officials say

TORONTO - EHealth Ontario is cancelling its contract to set up a diabetes registry. Greg Reed, president of eHealth, confirmed Tuesday that notice of termination has been sent to CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants Inc....More

Carbs, proteins key to fuelling workouts; proper hydration can ease hunger pangs

Leading a step class and spinning session hours apart, Tamara Grand estimates she burns about 1,400 calories — equal to what some people eat in a whole day....More

Halifax psychiatric hospital review ordered after beating death to be released

HALIFAX - A report into the East Coast Forensic Hospital that was launched following the beating death of Raymond Taavel in Halifax earlier this year will be released Tuesday....More

Ground beef products from Alberta plant recalled in E. coli scare

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning against the consumption of several brands of ground beef from XL Foods of Alberta because of possible E.coli contamination....More

From quicker license renewals to eye tests, states have varying rules governing older drivers

A 50-state look at the varying rules across the nation governing drivers' licenses for older adults. ___ ALABAMA: Licenses are renewed every four years for all drivers, with no additional requirements for older drivers....More

Foods high in protein, whole wheat sustain energy for a morning at school, work

TORONTO - No matter how busy life gets, it's important to make time for breakfast. "It helps children in every aspect of development — socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually....More

Cancer overtakes heart disease as No. 1 killer of Hispanics; rest of US will soon follow

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the No. 1 killer among Hispanics in the U.S., and the rest of the country may be only a few years behind. The change is not exactly cause for alarm....More

AP IMPACT: Confusing array of license rules reflects angst about aging's impact on driving

WASHINGTON - Jerry Wiseman notices it's harder to turn and check his car's blind spots at age 69 than it was at 50....More

Government-ordered review of Halifax psychiatric facility to be released

HALIFAX - A review of a Halifax psychiatric facility that released a patient who was later charged in a fatal assault will be made public today....More

Carbs, proteins key to fuelling workouts; proper hydration can ease hunger pangs

Leading a step class and spinning session hours apart, Tamara Grand estimates she burns about 1,400 calories — equal to what some people eat in a whole day....More

Edmonton judge's ruling to remove 2-year-old child from life support stayed

EDMONTON - An Edmonton judge has ruled that a two-year-old girl in a coma after alleged abuse by her parents should be removed from life support....More

Best interest of child to remove her from life support: Edmonton judge

EDMONTON - A judge is siding with doctors about the fate of a two-year-old child who is in a coma after alleged abused by her parents....More

B.C. government fires 5th Health Ministry employee in drug research investigation

VICTORIA - A fifth British Columbia government employee has been fired in connection with an ongoing investigation that involves the abuse of drug research information....More

EHealth recommends $46M plan to build diabetes registry be scrapped

TORONTO - Embattled provincial agency eHealth Ontario is recommending its diabetes registry be cancelled. Spokesman Robert Mitchell says eHealth's board favours scrapping a $46.2-million contract with CGI Group Inc. to develop the registry....More

Salt-high blood pressure link may be stronger in overweight kids, government study suggests

CHICAGO - American children eat as much salt as adults — about 1,000 milligrams too much, or the same amount as in just one Big Mac....More

Ground beef products from Alberta plant recalled in E. coli scare

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning against the consumption of several brands of ground beef from XL Foods of Alberta because of possible E.coli contamination....More

From quicker license renewals to eye tests, states have varying rules governing older drivers

A 50-state look at the varying rules across the nation governing drivers' licenses for older adults. ___ ALABAMA: Licenses are renewed every four years for all drivers, with no additional requirements for older drivers....More

AP IMPACT: Array of license rules reflects uncertainty, angst about aging's impact on driving

WASHINGTON - Jerry Wiseman notices it's harder to turn and check his car's blind spots at age 69 than it was at 50....More

NYC bans supersized sodas at restaurants, theatres and concession stands

NEW YORK, N.Y. - New York City cracked down on the sale of supersized sodas and other sugary drinks Thursday in what was celebrated by some as a groundbreaking attempt to curb obesity but condemned by others as a blatant intrusion into people's lives by a busybody mayor....More

Nova Scotia accepting proposals for Cape Breton addictions centre until October

HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government says it will accept proposals for an addictions recovery house in Cape Breton until Oct. 23....More

Military cop says concealing soldier's note not nefarious, made 'judgment call'

OTTAWA - The decision to withhold Stuart Langridge's suicide note from his grieving family was a "judgment call," not an attempt to conceal the fact that the Canadian Forces corporal had taken his own life, the lead investigator testified Thursday....More

Military cop says concealing soldier's note not nefarious, made 'judgment call'

OTTAWA - The decision to withhold Cpl. Stuart Langridge's suicide note from his grieving family was a "judgment call" and not a nefarious attempt to protect the Canadian Forces from embarrassment, the lead investigator testified Thursday....More

First of its kind, NYC proposal to crack down on super-sized sodas goes to vote Thursday

NEW YORK, N.Y. - One of New York City's most ambitious efforts to prod residents to live healthier appears poised to pass as a health panel takes up a plan to cut down sales of big sodas and other sugary soft drinks....More

Alberta coroner responsible for leaving soldier's body hanging: military cop

OTTAWA - The lead investigator in the suicide of a Canadian soldier is blaming the Alberta medical examiner for the fact that the dead man was left hanging for 90 minutes after he was found. Sgt....More

'Stand up and be accountable:' Alberta health boss sorry for expense scandal

CALGARY - The chairman of Alberta Health Services says he's sorry for any money that may have been spent on things not related to delivering health care....More

UN health agency says Ebola virus death toll more than doubles to 31 in northeastern Congo

GENEVA - A deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus has killed 31 people in northeastern Congo, more than doubling the death toll from a week ago, the U.N. health agency said Friday....More

Montreal hospital says 684 colon exams were incomplete, orders more tests

MONTREAL - More than 600 patients who underwent colonoscopies at a Montreal-area hospital will have to submit to new exams....More

Manitoba ombudsman wants tougher penalties after health worker snoops in kid's file

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's acting ombudsman says penalties for nosiness should be strengthened now that technology is making it easier for health-care workers to snoop into the private information of patients they have a grudge against....More

Health officials: This year's West Nile virus outbreak on track to be deadliest ever

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Health officials say they're convinced this will be the worst year for West Nile virus deaths and severe illnesses since the disease hit America's shores in 1999....More

Boy, mom get $700,000 in AIDS discrimination case against Pa. school tied to Hershey candy co.

HERSHEY, Pa. - A 14-year-old boy and his mother will receive $700,000 from the settlement of an AIDS discrimination lawsuit against a private boarding school that refused to enrol him because he's HIV-positive....More

5 years after stem cell transplant, 'Berlin Man' has no doubt unique treatment cured HIV

ST. LOUIS - More than five years after a radical treatment, a San Francisco man and his German doctor are convinced that he remains the first person cured of infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS....More

US reports incidents of tainted ricotta cheese imported from Italy

WASHINGTON - U.S. health officials say imported Italian ricotta cheese tainted with listeria bacteria is linked to 14 illnesses including at least one death. The ricotta salata cheese distributed by Forever Cheese Inc....More

Scientists tracking spread of tapeworm that can move from coyotes to dogs

TORONTO - Animal health researchers are watching what appears to be mounting evidence of the spread of a potentially dangerous parasite in coyotes, foxes and other animals in Canada....More

First of its kind, NYC proposal to crack down on super-sized sodas goes to vote Thursday

NEW YORK, N.Y. - One of New York City's most ambitious efforts to prod residents to live healthier appears poised to pass as a health panel takes up a plan to cut down sales of big sodas and other sugary soft drinks....More

Quebec reports 12th death from legionnaires' disease

QUEBEC - Public health officials in Quebec City have confirmed a 12th death from legionnaires' disease....More

Pfizer-J&J Alzheimer drug fails to stop mental decline but may slow brain plaque, studies find

An experimental drug that failed to stop mental decline in Alzheimer's patients also signalled potential benefit that suggests it might help if given earlier, fuller results of two major studies show....More

Ontario couple going to court to halt wind farm pending health studies

TORONTO - An Ontario couple is trying to put the brakes on a proposed wind farm project until the health effects of turbines can be studied, and they're turning to the courts for help....More

News Summary: Studies say Alzheimer drug doesn't stop mental decline but may slow brain plaque

MORE DISAPPOINTMENT: Two major studies of an experimental Alzheimer's drug show it doesn't stop mental decline, the latest setback in finding a treatment for the mind-robbing disease....More

Indonesian men are world's top smokers as two-thirds light up

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesian men rank as the world's top smokers, with two out of three of them lighting up in a country where cigarettes cost pennies and tobacco advertising is everywhere....More

Georgia woman who battled flesh-eating disease tells story on national TV show

NEW YORK, N.Y. - A Georgia woman who survived a rare fleshing-eating disease told Katie Couric on Tuesday that she doesn't take life for granted anymore....More

Food agency issues allergy alert over Compliments brand popcorn

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued an allergy alert over the Compliments brand Sensations Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn. The agency says the snack, manufactured by Super Pufft of Mississauga, Ont., contains milk not declared on the label....More

N.L. hospital cancels some surgeries because of fire, power fluctuations

CARBONEAR, N.L. - Officials at a hospital in eastern Newfoundland are cancelling elective surgeries today because of a fire they suspect was linked to post-tropical storm Leslie....More

Health Canada warns consumers about unlicensed HIV, STD home testing kits

TORONTO - Health Canada is warning consumers about an Internet-based company that is trying to sell home testing kits for HIV and a number of other sexually transmitted infections....More

Health Canada mum on overseas drug-manufacturing plant inspections: researcher

VANCOUVER - Health Canada is so secretive about its inspections of overseas drug-manufacturing plants that Canadians can't be confident their medications are safe, says a drug policy researcher....More

Dozens of patient records breached, says Newfoundland health board

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health board says it's investigating a privacy breach involving the patient records of as many as 46 people....More

AP IMPACT: Doctors move beyond bionic legs and grow ears, bone, muscle and skin for troops

BOSTON - Scientists are growing ears, bone and skin in the lab, and doctors are planning more face transplants and other extreme plastic surgeries....More

Acupuncture helps relieve headache, back pain, whether placebo effect or not: study

CHICAGO - Acupuncture gets a thumbs-up for helping relieve pain from chronic headaches, backaches and arthritis in a review of more than two dozen studies — the latest analysis of an often-studied therapy that has as many fans as critics....More

Pfizer-J&J Alzheimer drug fails to stop mental decline but may slow brain plaque, studies find

An experimental drug that failed to stop mental decline in Alzheimer's patients also showed some potential benefit, fuller results of two major studies now show....More

Indonesian men are world's top smokers as two-thirds light up

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesian men rank as the world's top smokers, with two out of three of them lighting up in a country where cigarettes cost pennies and tobacco advertising is everywhere....More

Food agency issues allergy alert over Compliments brand popcorn

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued an allergy alert over the Compliments brand Sensations Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn. The agency says the snack, manufactured by Super Pufft of Mississauga, Ont., contains milk not declared on the label....More

Molly Moo doll recalled; nose bead a choking risk for young children

TORONTO - Health Canada says Molly Moo dolls are being recalled because they pose a choking hazard for young children. The nose of several of the dolls detached from the face; the small bead-like component could choke children if they put it in their mouths....More

Liberal government, OMA agree to resume negotiations on doctors' fees

TORONTO - There's new hope that the Ontario government can reach an agreement with the province's doctors after a rocky few months, Health Minister Deb Matthews said Thursday....More

Quebec City Legionnaires' outbreak appears to be under control: health chief

Quebec City's large Legionnaires' disease outbreak appears to be under control, the city's public health director said Friday. Dr....More

McMaster University receives $10M donation for research into healthy aging

HAMILTON - McMaster University has received a $10-million donation to fund research into healthy aging at a time when the ranks of Canada's senior population are swelling....More

Suicide risk assessment tool 'valuable step' in suicide prevention: professor

HALIFAX - A new suicide risk assessment tool used by health professionals in some Nova Scotia hospitals is a "valuable step" towards preventing suicide and should be implemented on a wider scale, a psychiatry professor says....More

Second study from Quebec raises questions about timing of measles vaccine

TORONTO - A second study from Quebec is calling into question the timing at which young children are vaccinated against measles....More

Flu shot issue dismissed as a 'Canadian problem' may not be so, study suggests

TORONTO - A strange vaccine-related phenomenon spotted at the start of the 2009 flu pandemic may well have been real, a new study suggests....More

AP IMPACT: Doctors move beyond bionic legs and grow ears, bone, muscle and skin for troops

BOSTON - Scientists are growing ears, bone and skin in the lab, and doctors are planning more face transplants and other extreme plastic surgeries....More

Alberta premier announces expense claims to be posted online every 2 months

CALGARY - Premier Alison Redford says Alberta's new method of reporting travel and expense claims will make it easy for the public to keep an eye on her government....More

'Drug holiday' an option for some prostate cancers; cuts side-effects

TORONTO - A new study suggests a little time off — a drug holiday — can cut down on troubling side-effects of prostate cancer treatment for some patients without hastening death....More

Worker seriously injured in Clarington chemical spill; businesses evacuated

CLARINGTON, Ont. - Durham police say several people have been injured in a chemical spill at a company in Clarington, east of Toronto....More

Withholding soldier's suicide note for 14 months sign of coverup: stepfather

OTTAWA - A Canadian soldier's suicide note was withheld from his parents for 14 months by military police in what Cpl. Stuart Langridge's stepfather calls a calculated deception....More

Study: Mammograms, X-rays could raise breast cancer risk in young women with gene mutations

LONDON - Mammograms aimed at finding breast cancer might actually raise the chances of developing it in young women whose genes put them at higher risk for the disease, a study by leading European cancer agencies suggests....More

Redford officially partially opens Alberta's largest hospital in Calgary

CALGARY - Five years after its groundbreaking, Alberta's largest hospital is officially open — sort of. Premier Alison Redford was on hand Thursday for the official opening of the $1.3-billion South Health Campus in Calgary....More

Molly Moo doll recalled; nose bead a choking risk for young children

TORONTO - Health Canada says Molly Moo dolls are being recalled because they pose a choking hazard for young children. The nose of several of the dolls detached from the face; the small bead-like component could choke children if they put it in their mouths....More

Liberal government, OMA agree to resume negotiations on doctors' fees

TORONTO - There's new hope that the Ontario government can reach an agreement with the province's doctors after a rocky few months, Health Minister Deb Matthews said Thursday....More

Ontario remains the Canadian hot zone for West Nile virus this year

TORONTO - Ontario remains the hot zone for West Nile virus activity in Canada this summer, with a case count that climbed 41 per cent over the past week....More

NFL veterans show elevated risk of dying from degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's

NEW YORK, N.Y. - A study of former NFL players finds they were unusually prone to dying from degenerative brain disease, the latest indication that repeated blows to the head may cause serious trouble later on....More

More proof suggests supplement ginkgo biloba doesn't prevent Alzheimer's

LONDON - Taking the popular dietary supplement ginkgo biloba didn't prevent Alzheimer's disease in older adults, according to the biggest prevention study in Europe....More

McGuinty, minister and advisor refuse to appear before Ornge committee: Tories

TORONTO - The Conservatives are slamming Premier Dalton McGuinty, one of his advisors and a cabinet minister for refusing to appear before a committee that's looking into Ornge....More

Liberal government, OMA agree to resume negotiations on doctors' fees

TORONTO - The Ontario Medical Association and the Ontario government say they've agreed to restart negotiations on a new fee agreement for the province's doctors....More

Calgary man accused of faking cancer held fundraiser which made $7500

CALGARY - A Calgary man has been accused of pretending to have cancer and holding a fundraiser that garnered $7,500. Police say the silent auction was held July 8, 2011, to raise funds for a man's cancer treatment....More

Alberta premier announces expense claims to be posted online every 2 months

CALGARY - Premier Alison Redford says Alberta's new method of reporting travel and expense claims will make it easy for the public to keep an eye on her government....More

'Drug holiday' an option for some prostate cancers; cuts side-effects

TORONTO - A new study suggests a little time off — a drug holiday — can cut down on troubling side-effects of prostate cancer treatment for some patients without hastening death....More

Trucking company boss is named new head of Alberta Health Services

EDMONTON - The head of a Calgary-area trucking company has been named the new chairman of Alberta's health superboard. The government says Stephen Lockwood has a background rooted in strong financial oversight and good corporate governance....More

Tips from experts on improving college students' sleep habits

Adolescents typically need between eight and nine hours of sleep a night, but some studies suggest they typically get closer to six. Here are some sleep tips for college students (or anyone) looking to improve their sleep habits....More

Time to ditch spanking law, say doctors, calling it excuse for poor parenting

OTTAWA - The Canadian Medical Association Journal says it's time to do away with the Criminal Code's so-called spanking law....More

Opening their eyes: More colleges hope sleep campaigns will cure what ails students

As U.S. college students return to campus in the coming weeks, they'll be showered in the usual handouts of coupons, condoms and credit cards....More

New Brunswick releases plan to combat whooping cough outbreak among students

FREDERICTON - Health officials in New Brunswick are planning to battle a recent outbreak of whooping cough by launching an immunization program for students in grades 7, 8 and 9. There have been 1,100 confirmed cases of pertussis in the province....More

Kimberly-Clark says rejected tampons stolen, sold and may put users at risk

DALLAS - Thieves have stolen and sold some rejected tampons that may pose a health risk if used, Kimberly-Clark Corp. said Tuesday....More

HEALTHBEAT: Is organic healthier? Study says not so much, but it's key reason consumers buy

WASHINGTON - Patient after patient asked: Is eating organic food, which costs more, really better for me? Unsure, Stanford University doctors dug through reams of research to find out — and concluded there's little evidence that going organic is much...More

Back to school leads to peak in asthma flareups; parents urged to stress control

TORONTO - Asthma experts say the next few weeks could be busy ones for children suffering from the troubling condition....More

Sudden closure of Nova Scotia rehab centre like losing a home, says ex addict

Years of drug abuse left Brian Miles with a rap sheet so long that he can't remember exactly what landed him in a Cape Breton jail for 30 days three years ago....More

Legionnaires' death toll rises to 11 in Quebec, total of 169 cases

QUEBEC - Legionnaires' disease has claimed another life in Quebec City, bringing the total to 11 since the outbreak began in mid-July. Public health officials have now confirmed 169 cases in all — four more than on Saturday....More

'Not without my iPad': Young tech-savvy docs want a real life, but don't call them slackers

CHICAGO - Don't call today's young doctors slackers. True, they may shun a 24/7 on-call solo practice and try to have a life outside of work....More

Ready Pac fresh cut fruit recalled due to possible salmonella contamination

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is monitoring a recall of certain Ready Pac fresh cut fruit products due to possible salmonella contamination....More

Range of service providers and professionals can help spot skin cancers

TORONTO - It could appear on your scalp. Or the sole of your foot. Under a fingernail. Or on a stretch of your back that is virtually impossible to see without a three-way mirror. Skin cancers can show up anywhere....More

Tips from experts on improving college students' sleep habits

Adolescents typically need between eight and nine hours of sleep a night, but some studies suggest they typically get closer to six. Here are some sleep tips for college students (or anyone) looking to improve their sleep habits....More

Opening their eyes: More colleges hope sleep campaigns will cure what ails students

As U.S. college students return to campus in the coming weeks, they'll be showered in the usual handouts of coupons, condoms and credit cards....More

HEALTHBEAT: Is organic healthier? Study says not so much, but it's key reason consumers buy

WASHINGTON - Patient after patient asked: Is eating organic food, which costs more, really better for me? Unsure, Stanford University doctors dug through reams of research to find out — and concluded there's little evidence that going organic is much...More

B.C. health official calls oregano oil ad a 'health hazard,' demands retraction

VANCOUVER - It probably tastes better than snake oil, but a B.C. company's claim that its oregano oil supplement is an effective alternative to the whooping cough vaccine has created a serious public health hazard, a regional health authority says....More

'We're coming' for a wage freeze, McGuinty warns public sector workers

TORONTO - Who's next? It's a question on the minds of many Ontario public sector workers as the governing Liberals push through legislation that would force new contracts on teachers to slay a $15-billion deficit....More

Legionnaires' claims another victim in Quebec, bringing total to 10

QUEBEC - An outbreak of legionnaires' disease in Quebec City has claimed its 10th victim. Public health authorities say there have now been 165 cases since the outbreak began in mid-July....More

Sudden closure of Nova Scotia rehab centre like losing a home, says ex addict

Years of drug abuse left Brian Miles with a rap sheet so long that he can't remember exactly what landed him in a Cape Breton jail for 30 days three years ago....More

Legionnaires' death toll rises to 11 in Quebec, total of 169 cases

QUEBEC - Legionnaires' disease has claimed another life in Quebec City, bringing the total to 11 since the outbreak began in mid-July. Public health officials have now confirmed 169 cases in all — four more than on Saturday....More

'Not without my iPad': Young tech-savvy docs want a real life, but don't call them slackers

CHICAGO - Don't call today's young doctors slackers. True, they may shun a 24/7 on-call solo practice and try to have a life outside of work....More

Ready Pac fresh cut fruit recalled due to possible salmonella contamination

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is monitoring a recall of certain Ready Pac fresh cut fruit products due to possible salmonella contamination....More

Range of service providers and professionals can help spot skin cancers

TORONTO - It could appear on your scalp. Or the sole of your foot. Under a fingernail. Or on a stretch of your back that is virtually impossible to see without a three-way mirror. Skin cancers can show up anywhere....More