The best health news search engine - My Health News » CBC Health and Science News » March 2010 - Bird flu, Avian influenza, Diabetes, Cholesterol, Caner, HIV

N.S. must pay for woman's medical marijuana

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 9:46pm CDT

The provincial Department of Community Services has been ordered to pay for the medical marijuana used by a woman on income assistance.

Beef producers slam Ottawa over BSE cases

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 8:08pm CDT

Lawyers, seeking compensation for thousands of beef producers across the country, blast the federal government's failure to keep BSE out of Canada at a meeting in central Alberta.

English super hospital moves forward

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 7:11pm CDT

Quebec's premier will break ground on the new English super-hospital site in Montreal on Thursday afternoon.

MPs wear blue ties for cancer-stricken Layton

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 6:13pm CDT

Virtually every member of Parliament from every party wore a teal-and-blue-striped tie or scarf in support of NDP Leader Jack Layton's fight against prostate cancer on Wednesday.

U.S. veterans face gap in mental health care

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 6:13pm CDT

Mental health problems of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan aren't getting enough attention, a new report says.

Ephedrine product warning from Health Canada

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 6:12pm CDT

An unauthorized product called West Pharm Therma Lean Fat Burner Energizer was found for sale in Canada and poses serious health risks, Health Canada warns.

New isotope reactor ruled out

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 5:47pm CDT

The federal government is turning thumbs down on a recommendation from its own expert panel to build a new nuclear reactor to produce medical isotopes.

No Lysol endorsement, despite ads: pediatricians

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 4:23pm CDT

The Canadian Paediatric Society has not endorsed Lysol cleanser as a favoured brand, contrary to an impression created by the product's packaging and advertising, the CBC-TV's Marketplace reports.

Chocolate bite could help heart

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 2:49pm CDT

Eating a small amount of chocolate daily may help the heart and lower blood pressure.

Pill with antenna ensures patients take meds

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 2:41pm CDT

U.S. researchers have engineered a pill that can alert patients and medical professionals that it's been ingested with the help of a digestible microchip and tiny antenna.

Vancouver murder suspect had mental issues

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 12:38pm CDT

The man accused of killing a woman in West Vancouver's Lighthouse Park was released from a psychiatric hospital months before her death, documents show.

FDA suppressed CT safety concerns: scientist

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 11:07am CDT

A former U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientist says his job was eliminated after he raised concerns about the risks of radiation exposure from high-grade medical scanning.

Quebec health fee won't heal system: PQ

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 8:06am CDT

Critics are incensed with Quebec's new health care fee - $25 per year as of 2010 with yearly increases to $200, and a possible health deductible in the future.

Transplant patient needs province's help: Crane

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 6:56am CDT

The P.E.I. government has to stop dragging its heels and come up with some assistance for a woman waiting for a double-lung transplant in Toronto, says Opposition leader Olive Crane.

Baby Kaylee back in hospital

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 6:06am CDT

The infant at the centre of a heart transplant drama last spring is back in hospital.

Clinton backs contraception for maternal health

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 11:05pm CDT

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton waded into a global debate about maternal health Tuesday saying any discussion has to include contraception, family planning and access to abortion.

$10K reward offered in Calgary food tampering

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 10:13pm CDT

A $10,000 reward is being offered for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a series of food-tampering cases in major grocery chains in Calgary over the past three months.

Gonorrhea superbug emerging, British expert warns

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 7:44pm CDT

Gonorrhea could become extremely difficult to treat if its increasing resistance to antibiotics is not addressed soon, says a British specialist on the sexually transmitted infection.

Minority women have trouble finding health care

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 6:28pm CDT

Many women from visible minority groups say they have difficulty getting a doctor to address urgent health concerns or to monitor chronic medical conditions, a study has found.

Maternity top reason to leave province for care: study

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 5:53pm CDT

Maternal and newborn hospital stays accounted for almost 25 per cent of trips outside the home province of Canadians, new report finds.

Maternity top reason to leave province for care

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 5:53pm CDT

Maternal and newborn hospital stays accounted for almost 25 per cent of trips outside the home province of Canadians, new report finds.

Coroner calls for changes at Montreal hospital

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 4:17pm CDT

A Quebec coroner is recommending a number of changes at a Montreal hospital after a 63-year-old man died following a series of communications problems.

Medical isotope reactor down until summer

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 2:13pm CDT

Medical isotopes from the nuclear reactor in Chalk River, Ont., won't be produced until the end of July, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited says.

Processed-food recalls widened

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 2:08pm CDT

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has expanded two food recalls involving contaminated basic ingredients.

Measles outbreak hits unvaccinated in B.C.

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 2:05pm CDT

Up to 14 Vancouver-area residents have contracted measles in recent weeks, health officials in B.C. are warning, and many of those infected were unvaccinated members of single household.

50% of knee arthritis cases didn't try best pill

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 11:12am CDT

People with knee osteoarthritis often start using pain relief medications on their own, without the advice of a health professional regarding the best treatment option, a new Canadian study suggests.

N.S. doctors streamline referrals

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 8:52am CDT

A Nova Scotia man hopes a new set of rules for doctors will mean no unnecessary trips to a specialist.

OD tot's dad to undergo mental exam

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 5:29pm CDT

A Calgary judge has granted a mental assessment for a father convicted of failing to provide the necessities of life to his daughter, who died of an inadvertent methadone overdose.

H1N1 cough may last months, patient says

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 5:24pm CDT

Canadians who contracted mild cases of H1N1 may continue to cough for months.

Junk-food addiction may change brain

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 2:46pm CDT

Compulsive eating triggers some of the same addiction-like responses in the brain as heroin, a study on rats suggests.

Club drug mephedrone faces ban in U.K.

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 2:45pm CDT

Mephedrone, a legal drug linked to several deaths last year in Britain, will be criminalized, a government official says.

Quebec nurses ready for job action

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 1:02pm CDT

Unionized Quebec nurses are discussing pressure tactics after contract talks with the province tanked late last week over a proposed new collective agreement the union called "odious."

Ottawa to create city autism registry

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 12:45pm CDT

Ottawa is set to become just the second Canadian municipality to create an autism registry, a tool that police hope will help first-responders locate and assist autistic children and adults.

H1N1 pandemic call to be reviewed

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 9:10am CDT

Outside experts will scrutinize the World Health Organization's response to swine flu and will likely examine whether the term "pandemic" was appropriate, agency says.

Tighter controls on tanning needed, FDA told

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 3:29pm CDT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should institute more controls over tanning salons and consider barring anyone younger than 18 from using them, an advisory panel urged Thursday.

Maple syrup's health benefits touted

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 3:04pm CDT

Quebec maple syrup producers are promoting the health benefits of the sticky treat.

Pfizer to pay $142M for drug fraud

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 2:28pm CDT

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has been ordered to pay $142 million US in damages for fraudulently marketing gabapentin, an anti-seizure drug marketed under the name Neurontin.

Obese need special ambulance gear

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 1:40pm CDT

Society's obesity problem has ambulance attendants scrambling for new equipment capable of transporting very heavy patients, medics in Saskatoon say.

Cuba to vaccinate against swine flu

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 12:57pm CDT

Cuba will begin vaccinating nearly 10 per cent of its citizens against swine flu next week, ending its skepticism about the high cost and effectiveness of immunization to combat the virus.

Norovirus confirmed at seniors' home

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 12:45pm CDT

There have been two confirmed cases of norovirus and several people complaining of symptoms at the Beach Grove home in Charlottetown.

Herbal diet product poses heart risk

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 12:32pm CDT

A herbal diet product sold in Canada contains two potentially risky ingredients and can lead to serious heart problems, Health Canada says

Breast removal not always best treatment option

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 11:37am CDT

For some women, having a breast removed once they have been diagnosed with cancer doesn't always mean they'll live longer, a new study says.

Doctors subpoenaed in Haim death

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 11:37am CDT

Up to 20 doctors have been given subpoenas by the L.A. County Coroner's office in connection with the death of Canadian actor Corey Haim.

'Age quake' may extend N.S. wait times: surgeon

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 10:56am CDT

Nova Scotia's wait times for knee and hip surgery are longer than in the rest of Canada and a looming "age quake" could make it even worse, a Halifax surgeon said Friday.

Rift widens with MDs as Kennedy seeks apology

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 9:00am CDT

Smooth relations between the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association and the provincial government seem further away.

Pharmacy grads for shortage still 2 years off

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 7:04am CDT

The Maritimes' only pharmacy school has no immediate plan to increase enrollment, but is expecting a new school at the University of Waterloo will help address a national shortage.

U.S. health-care bill passed by House

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 9:01pm CDT

The U.S. House of Representatives passed historic legislation by a vote of 220-207 Thursday night, enshrining health care as the right of every citizen.

Chalk River isotopes expected by end of July

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 8:10pm CDT

The Chalk River nuclear reactor should be ready to resume production of isotopes by the end of July, Atomic Energy of Canada announced late Thursday.

Fractures with bone drugs puzzling

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 5:37pm CDT

Widely used osteoporosis drugs do not raise the rare risk of hip fractures as previous case studies suggested, a new study finds.

Old Fisher-Price Little People pose hazard

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 5:34pm CDT

Health Canada is warning parents and caregivers to get rid of a popular old toy that is no longer considered safe after the recent choking death of an infant.

Ontario unveils 8-year deficit plan

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 5:29pm CDT

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan has unveiled an Ontario budget aimed at getting the province's deficit under control within eight years.

Canadian brothers find MS treatment in Poland

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 4:55pm CDT

Two brothers, one from Winnipeg and one from Ottawa, have emerged from surgery in Poland, hoping to alleviate the symptoms they have from multiple sclerosis.

U.S. health-care bill gets Senate approval

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 2:26pm CDT

The U.S. Senate has approved final changes to the newly enacted health-care bill and have sent it back to the House of Representatives for a final vote.

1 in 3 breast cancers avoidable

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 1:51pm CDT

Up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more, researchers at a cancer conference say.

Evenflo baby gates recalled after injuries

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 1:22pm CDT

More than 180,000 Evenflo baby gates are being recalled across North America after the manufacturer reported several children had been hurt in accidents involving the protective stair gates.

Smallpox feared in Uganda is chickenpox: WHO

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 10:44am CDT

Suspected cases of smallpox in Uganda are chickenpox, the World Health Organization says.

Use doctors as web guide, MDs advise

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 7:08pm CDT

Online health information should be used according to doctor's orders, physicians advise.

Dialysis machines needed in Nunavut: MLA

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 5:41pm CDT

It may be a little while before there's a dialysis machine in Nunavut.

Labrador reserve to vote on alcohol ban

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 4:52pm CDT

A debate about lifting a two-year-old alcohol ban at the Natuashish Innu reserve, in Labrador, is triggering some bad memories for a resident who lost five children when a house burned down in Davis Inlet 17 years ago.

Priority surgery wait times improve

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 3:15pm CDT

At least 75 per cent of surgery patients in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec are now consistently getting priority surgeries within benchmark timeframes, according to a new report.

Cancer patients await research payoff: report

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 12:30pm CDT

Canada is a global leader in cancer research, but its citizens don't have access to some of these advances, according to a new report card on cancer care.

Over a million baby slings recalled

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 11:41am CDT

More than one million baby slings made by San Diego-based company Infantino are being recalled after the products were linked to three infant deaths.

Most cancer inquiry changes made: N.L.

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 11:05am CDT

Newfoundland and Labrador says many of the recommendations in a searing inquiry into breast cancer testing have been implemented.

Eye drops recalled over particles

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 9:02am CDT

Health Canada says two lots of a prescription eye solution are being recalled because some bottles may contain particles that irritate the eyes.

Medical isotope shortage hits Halifax

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 7:53am CDT

The nuclear medicine department of the Capital Health District in Halifax is struggling to cope with a shortage of medical isotopes, says the doctor in charge.

Chlamydia on rise in N.B.

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 6:17pm CDT

New Brunswick health officials are concerned that the number of reported cases of chlamydia among young people in the province has been increasing by about 10 per cent a year over the past few years.

Vitamin D deficiency in 1.1 million Canadians

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 6:12pm CDT

Most Canadians have enough vitamin D in their blood for bone health, but only one-third are above the increasingly believed necessary for overall health and disease prevention, Statistics Canada says.

Women exercise an hour a day to keep pounds off

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 5:53pm CDT

Women at a healthy weight need 60 minutes a day of exercise to avoid putting on pounds as they age, a U.S. study suggests.

Vitamin C from diet not enough for 1 adult in 5

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 5:49pm CDT

More than 20 per cent of Canadian adults do not get enough vitamin C from their diet, a new report says.

Vitamin D deficient in 1.1 million Canadians

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 3:14pm CDT

Most Canadians have enough vitamin D in their blood for bone health, but only one-third are above the increasingly believed necessary for overall health and disease prevention, Statistics Canada says.

Chain restaurant menus in U.S. to reveal calories

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 3:01pm CDT

Chain restaurants in the U.S. will be required to post calorie counts on menus, thanks to a new law tucked into the Obama administration's massive health care bill.

Genes may decide kids' tumour care

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 1:22pm CDT

A genetic mutation plays a key role in how children with a rare type of brain tumour are likely to respond to therapy, a finding that should help doctors better tailor radiation treatments.

High cholesterol hits 41% of adults

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 12:26pm CDT

Blood tests of thousands of Canadians showed 41 per cent of adults had a high total cholesterol level, a new report says.

Isotope shortage limits scans at Ottawa Hospital

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 11:44am CDT

The Ottawa Hospital is cancelling dozens of cardiac scanning appointments as it grapples with an unexpected shortage of the medical isotope Thallium.

Senior loses legs to hospital infections, bedsores

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 10:32am CDT

The daughter of a retired B.C. man who died in a publicly funded, long-term care facility believes her father suffered needlessly as a result of neglect by staff.

Pay demands not absurd, MDs tell Williams

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 8:52am CDT

The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association revealed its bargaining strategy Tuesday, days after Premier Danny Williams labelled their demands as excessive.

Ontario halts fast-tracking foreign MDs

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 8:41am CDT

CBC News has learned that Ontario has suspended a program aimed at fast-tracking the certification of some foreign doctors.

Nurses' tactics must not hurt patients: minister

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 7:26pm CDT

Patients must not suffer because of contract negotiations between the government and nurses, Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc says.

Pulmonary disease found in 1 in 10 adults

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 6:08pm CDT

The number of people diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD increased nearly 65 per cent over a decade, according to a new Ontario study.

COPD found in 1 in 10 adults

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 6:08pm CDT

The number of people diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD increased nearly 65 per cent over a decade, according to a new Ontario study.

Republicans vow to repeal health-care bill

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 5:24pm CDT

The new bill that redefines U.S. health-care coverage will be repealed if it becomes law, some prominent Republicans predicted Monday, one day before President Barack Obama is expected to make it so.

Women's height loss signals spinal problems

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 3:31pm CDT

Height loss in women over 60 could be a sign of spinal fractures, say researchers who suggest doctors measure the heights of post-menopausal patients.

Anti-uranium doctors renew threat to resign

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 2:31pm CDT

Nearly two-dozen doctors in Sept-Îles, Que., are renewing their threat to resign and leave the province after the government rejected calls for a moratorium on uranium mining and exploration in the region.

Cholera scientist wins $150K water prize

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 2:31pm CDT

Rita Colwell, a U.S. researcher whose work helped to prevent cholera and other waterborne disease, wins $150,000 US Stockholm Water Prize.

Back surgery wait-list called too long

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 2:15pm CDT

Patients with back and neck problems are waiting too long in pain because of a shortage of operating times in Calgary, says an orthopedic spine surgeon.

AIDS kills 14 kids at Uzbek hospitals: report

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 12:52pm CDT

AIDS outbreak at two children's hospitals in Uzbekistan has killed at least 14 children and left 133 infected, the respected online publication Ferghana.ru claims.

Antibiotic Avelox may be linked to rare liver injury

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 12:03pm CDT

The antibiotic Avelox, used to treat infections such as respiratory illness, may be linked to a rare but potentially life-threatening liver injury, Health Canada warns.

Cholera researcher wins $150K water prize

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 12:00pm CDT

Rita Colwell, a U.S. researcher whose work helped to prevent cholera and other waterborne disease, wins $150,000 US Stockholm Water Prize.

Shoulder movement changes after mastectomy

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 9:14am CDT

Women who have had a mastectomy move their shoulder differently to those who have not had the operation, a new study has found.

Historic U.S. health-care bill passes

Posted: March 21st, 2010, 11:36pm CDT

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a health-care bill that will make coverage possible for 32 million uninsured Americans and end insurance companies' discrimination toward people with existing medical conditions.

Hansen launches spinal cord injury fundraiser

Posted: March 21st, 2010, 6:17pm CDT

Twenty-five years to the day after Rick Hansen circled the world in a wheelchair, he's launching a new fundraiser for spinal cord injury research.

Acupuncture infection risks flagged

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 6:04pm CDT

People who undergo acupuncture risk getting a bacterial or viral infection from contaminated needles and other materials used in the treatment, microbiologists say, but practitioners say infection-control practices in Canada are strong enough to prevent that from happening.

Flu during pregnancy risky: study

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 3:45pm CDT

Pregnant women in Australia and New Zealand were 13 times more likely to become critically ill and be admitted to hospital than other women, a new study suggests.

Caffeine in sodas OK: Health Canada

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 3:41pm CDT

Caffeine is safe when used in low concentrations as a food additive in non-cola soft drinks, Health Canada says.

H1N1 fears worse than virus, expert says

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 2:54pm CDT

In the year since the first human case of H1N1 influenza was diagnosed in Mexico, public health efforts worldwide focusing on a vaccination campaign have increasingly come under question.

Obama makes final health-care pitch

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 2:42pm CDT

U.S. President Barack Obama made a final push to rally support before this weekend's vote on health-care legislation, charging that the country cannot afford to miss this historic opportunity.

OneTouch SureStep glucose test strips recalled

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 1:48pm CDT

The maker of OneTouch SureStep test strips has issued a voluntary recall of some lots of the product used by diabetics to measure blood-glucose levels.

Downsizing bad for employees' health

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 11:46am CDT

Older workers who find themselves in jobs where there are demotions and downsizing are more likely to develop health problems, a recent study suggests.

N.L. MDs ask for arbitration

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 11:37am CDT

The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association has asked for binding arbitration to settle a contract dispute.

Pregnant women wanted for N.B. H1N1 study

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 10:42am CDT

New Brunswick's Department of Health is looking to study women who were pregnant during last fall's H1N1 vaccination regime to examine their attitudes surrounding whether they decided to get immunized.

MS surgery draws Ottawa man to Poland

Posted: March 18th, 2010, 9:51pm CDT

An Ottawa man with multiple sclerosis is cashing in his retirement savings to go to Poland on Monday for controversial surgery he hopes will relieve his symptoms.

Contraception 'option' in maternal health plan

Posted: March 18th, 2010, 9:44pm CDT

Birth control won't be excluded after all from the Conservative government's new maternal health intitiative for developing countries.

Public defibrillators improve survival

Posted: March 18th, 2010, 8:57pm CDT

Placing portable defibrillators in public places such as schools and workplaces has helped people survive cardiac arrest, Japanese researchers say.

Isotope shortage puts patients at risk

Posted: March 18th, 2010, 8:55pm CDT

The health of thousands of Canadian and U.S. patients could be put in jeopardy by a critical shortage of radioactive isotopes over the next few weeks, nuclear medicine experts say.

Seniors take 5 drugs or more: study

Posted: March 18th, 2010, 5:33pm CDT

Almost two-thirds of Canadian seniors in some provinces are taking five or more types of prescription drugs, according to a new report.

Sweetener may aggravate liver disease

Posted: March 18th, 2010, 4:49pm CDT

The daily consumption of high-fructose corn syrup might aggravate liver damage in people who suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a U.S. study suggests.

WHO says rise in drug-resistant TB unclear

Posted: March 18th, 2010, 9:19am CDT

Lack of information means the World Health Organization can't tell if it is winning the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Obama enters Fox den over health-care reform

Posted: March 18th, 2010, 8:07am CDT

U.S. President Barack Obama made a rare appearance Wednesday on Fox News, a network his administration has battled with publicly, in a last-ditch effort to get support for his health-care bill.

Complaints about Alberta MDs jumped in 2009

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 7:44pm CDT

Complaints about Alberta physicians increased 37 per cent in 2009 from the year before, the province's College of Physicians and Surgeons announced Wednesday.

Pay travel costs for medical care: poll

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 7:44pm CDT

Nova Scotians believe the provincial government should cover travel costs for people who need to leave the province to receive medical care, a poll commissioned by the CBC suggests.

Britons held in Calgary khat seizure

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 7:27pm CDT

Two British citizens have been charged with trying to sneak khat, an illegal stimulant, into Canada through the Calgary airport.

Gays, lesbians excluded from U.S. trials: MDs

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 5:33pm CDT

Some medical studies exclude participants based on their sexual orientation, U.S. cancer researchers say.

Danny Williams lashes out at N.L. doctors

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 5:14pm CDT

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams has waded into a war of words between doctors and his health minister.

Breast cancer drugs get faster screening

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 4:47pm CDT

Experimental breast cancer drugs will be tested under a new DNA matching approach that aims to find which treatments work best and more quickly for certain patients.

Fewer ER visits for cancer patients possible

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 2:25pm CDT

People dying of cancer are frequent visitors to emergency departments, but many of the trips may be avoidable, a Canadian study suggests.

Bleach best to beat norovirus: study

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 11:30am CDT

As many as 40 per cent of commercial disinfectants may be ineffective in killing the viruses that cause the stomach flu, according to a new study released by Laval University researchers.

Free human egg prize sparks ethics debate

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 11:02am CDT

An American infertility clinic is offering free human eggs to one British woman for attending an informational seminar in London.

Warfarin treatment aided by gene tests

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 10:06am CDT

Checking patients' DNA before starting them on a popular blood thinner helps get the tricky dose right and keeps them out of the hospital, doctors say.

Flesh-eating disease kills man suddenly

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 8:40am CDT

A 40-year-old Windsor man has died after contracting flesh-eating disease.

Kidney failures up 57% over 10 years

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 8:56pm CDT

More Canadians are living with end-stage kidney disease and waiting for transplants today than a decade ago, according to a new report.

Quebec health board not obliged to accommodate minorities

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 8:17pm CDT

Quebec's health insurance board has no obligation to accommodate special requests related to religious or cultural beliefs, the province's human rights commission has ruled.

Medical marijuana club fears intimidation

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 7:57pm CDT

The co-founder of a Montreal-area medical marijuana club says he worries criminal elements are trying to shut down his operation after he was the victim of a home invasion early Tuesday morning.

Pandemic flu vaccine talks start

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 5:55pm CDT

The federal government has told the vaccine industry it wants to explore options for Canada's next pandemic flu vaccine contract, including having a back-up supplier.

N.L. doctors want rhetoric toned down

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 4:56pm CDT

Newfoundland and Labrador's doctors say the health minister used inflammatory language when he said the province's pathologists were acting like children.

Finances sank HIV vaccine facility bid

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 3:03pm CDT

The decision not to build a planned multimillion-dollar HIV vaccine manufacturing facility was not a political one, Canada's chief public health officer says.

Pepsi out of schools by 2012

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 2:34pm CDT

PepsiCo plans to remove sugary drinks from schools worldwide following the success of programs in the U.S. aimed at reducing childhood obesity.

Prescriptions found on street spark probe

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 2:19pm CDT

Ontario's privacy commissioner is investigating after thousands of medical prescriptions were found blowing around on a street in Gatineau last week.

'Betrayed' by Eastern Health, MDs say

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 12:01pm CDT

Pathologists who reported dire problems at Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health authority say that Eastern Health is now using their own complaints against them.

Web medical file service created for patients

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 11:34am CDT

A cellphone could someday ring to remind you to take your medication, one of the goals of a new internet program that allows people to maintain their own medical files.

Toronto investigating lead pipe replacement

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 7:08am CDT

Health officials with the City of Toronto say they are looking into research that says allowing the partial replacement of lead water pipes could carry health risks.

Senior drivers need more options: MDs

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 8:49pm CDT

A senior's licence to drive shouldn't trump public safety, say doctors advocating better transportation programs for an aging population.

Parents forget warnings of surgery risks

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 6:24pm CDT

Parents often forget the risks of ear, nose and throat surgery for their children even when counselled and provided with detailed written information, a new study finds.

Toxic conditions cited in Eastern Health lab review

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 6:06pm CDT

The lab at Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health authority is plagued by a toxic working environment and distrust between colleagues, a review has found.

Obama pitches health-care bill in Ohio

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 3:40pm CDT

U.S. President Barack Obama took his push for health-care reform to Ohio on Monday, calling on Congress to move beyond partisan politics and pass the controversial changes.

Indian spices, powders can pose lead risk for kids

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 3:31pm CDT

Young children who regularly ingest spices and ceremonial powders imported from India might be exposed to lead, U.S. doctors warn.

Midwife shortage spurs safety fears

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 3:19pm CDT

Growing demand and a short supply of licensed midwives are leading many Alberta women to use unregistered birth assistants, according to the group that represents the profession in the province.

Canada's food inspection ramping up

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 2:55pm CDT

Monitoring Canada's food producers is requiring more hours on the part of inspectors and a greater number of staff, says a memo from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

National emergency plan adopted

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 2:01pm CDT

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says the federal government has formally adopted its emergency response plan, months after the auditor general accused Ottawa of being unprepared to co-ordinate emergency measures.

Heart valve clip safer than surgery: study

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 10:44am CDT

A tiny clip implanted through an artery was safer and nearly as effective as open-heart surgery for leaky mitral valves, a U.S. study suggests.

Mouthguards may boost athletes' performance

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 10:09am CDT

A New Brunswick dentist says his research indicates mouthguards can improve the performance of athletes, and take away their aches and pains.

Williams back on job after heart surgery

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 8:02am CDT

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams returned to work on Monday, six weeks after triggering a firestorm over medicare.

Opium poppy secrets unlocked

Posted: March 14th, 2010, 4:15pm CDT

Researchers at the University of Calgary say they have discovered the unique genes that allow the opium poppy to make compounds used to produce codeine and morphine.

Listeria-contaminated meat prompts lawsuit

Posted: March 14th, 2010, 3:53pm CDT

The latest meat recall due to concerns over listeria contamination has prompted a proposed class action.

75% of family doctors abused by patients: study

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 7:10pm CST

Three-quarters of Canadian family doctors say they suffered at least one incident of major abuse at the hands of a patient, according to a new study.

Plavix blood thinner response poor in some

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 6:12pm CST

Blood thinner Plavix may not be fully active in some patients, increasing their risk for clots, heart attack and stroke, FDA warns.

Listeria, salmonella worries lead to recalls

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 5:15pm CST

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a pair of food recalls because of concerns about Listeria monocytogenes and salmonella.

Lab chief had to go: Eastern Health

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 2:19pm CST

The head of the largest health authority in Newfoundland and Labrador insisted Friday that a resigning manager was told to quit or be fired.

Cord-blood banks oversell value: Marketplace

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 2:10pm CST

Health claims used by private cord-blood banks to persuade parents to save their baby's umbilical cord blood can overstate the benefits, according to an investigation by CBC-TV's Marketplace.

Mastectomy surgeon's reinstatement concerns councillor

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 1:40pm CST

The decision to reinstate Dr. Barbara Heartwell's operating privileges may lead to distrust in the medical system, according to Windsor, Ont., city Coun. Bill Marra.

Parole for N.L. doctor who traded drugs for sex

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 11:56am CST

A St. John's doctor jailed for trading drugs for sex has been granted day parole after spending more than two years in prison.

Blood pressure spikes could boost stroke risk

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 10:42am CST

People with occasional spikes in their blood pressure could be at higher risk of having a stroke than those with regularly high blood pressure, according to new studies released Friday.

Salmonella outbreak tracked by shopper cards

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 9:10am CST

Health authorities in the U.S. have for the first time used department store credit cards to help trace the source of a recent salmonella outbreak that left hundreds of Americans ill.

Baby Isaiah dies in Edmonton hospital

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 9:21pm CST

Isaiah May, the Alberta infant who had been in intensive care since he suffered severe brain damage during his birth in October, died in his parents' arms just after he was taken off life support shortly after noon Thursday at Edmonton's Stollery Children's Hospital.

Montana governor wants Canadian drugs

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 8:01pm CST

Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Thursday that he is seeking U.S. government permission to import cheaper drugs from Canada for use in state insurance programs.

Montreal Heart Institute to reduce wait list

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 7:49pm CST

A cardiac surgeon at the Montreal Heart Institute says his hospital has adopted measures to get its wait list under control within six months.

Suspended mastectomy doctor will operate

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 7:49pm CST

Dr. Barbara Heartwell, a Windsor, Ont., surgeon suspended after performing unnecessary mastectomies, will return to the operating room.

Quebec to fund in vitro fertility treatments

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 7:15pm CST

Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc says the province is going ahead with a plan to fully fund in vitro fertility treatments for women.

MD finds his family's rare disorder in genome

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 7:02pm CST

A scientist who sequenced his own genome has identified a gene involved in the family's inherited neurological disorder.

Birth control users sue Bayer

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 6:14pm CST

Canadians have launched class-action lawsuits against Bayer Inc., the maker of birth control drugs Yaz and Yasmin, alleging the pills have caused serious health problems.

Canada ratifies UN treaty for disabled rights

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 5:42pm CST

Canada has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the eve of the Paralympic Games in Vancouver.

Alaskans sought Yukon health-care deals: MDs

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 4:59pm CST

The Canadian public health-care system enjoyed by Yukoners has been used frequently over the years by neighbouring Alaskans such as former governor Sarah Palin's family.

N.L. lab chief quit over workload, sources say

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 4:16pm CST

The St. John's physician who resigned amid a controversy over lab testing at Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health authority wanted to quit three months ago because of an excessive workload, CBC News has learned.

B.C. residents sue maker of quit-smoking drug

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 3:24pm CST

Three British Columbia residents are suing Pfizer, claiming the company's smoking-cession drug Champix can cause serious psychiatric reactions.

Invasive heart tests overused in U.S.: study

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 11:21am CST

A high number of U.S. patients given angiograms to check for heart disease turn out not to have a significant problem, according to the latest study to suggest Americans get an excess of medical tests.

Cancer patients benefit from advance in diagnosis

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 8:19am CST

An international team of cancer researchers has found a way to predict which Hodgkin's lymphoma patients won't respond well to therapies, opening the door to using a less aggressive regimen on those more likely to be cured.

Young cancer survivors seek support

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 8:17am CST

Young Canadians with cancer say they're falling through the cracks of a health care system designed for older patients.

Health minister puts managers on notice

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 6:54am CST

Newfoundland and Labrador's health minister has warned health-care managers they could be fired if they fail to live up to new accountability standards.

NHL GMs develop blindside hit rule

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 9:24pm CST

NHL general managers have developed the framework for a new rule punishing hits to the head.

Alberta to release medical mistakes report

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 7:56pm CST

Alberta's health minister has directed the province's health agency to release a full report on medical errors at Calgary's children's hospital within 10 days.

2 listeriosis cases investigated in Ont.

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 6:07pm CST

Health officials in Ontario are investigating two cases of listeriosis that appear to be linked to salami recalled from stores in Ontario and Quebec about three months ago.

Kids need ATV safety lessons: surgeon

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 5:03pm CST

Children who ride all-terrain vehicles are suffering amputations, spinal injuries and deaths, according to U.S. research, prompting calls for mandatory training.

Mother of OD baby asked to try methadone

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 3:38pm CST

A Calgary couple argued about how their baby daughter got a hold of methadone rather than focusing on her health after she ingested the drug, a former friend testified in court.

TB rate 185 times higher for Inuit than others

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 3:09pm CST

Tuberculosis remains a serious health problem in Canada's North, with the infection rate among Inuit 185 times greater than for others born in the country, a national analysis shows.

NHL GMs develop blind-side hit rule

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 2:08pm CST

NHL general managers have developed the framework for a new rule punishing hits to the head.

Baby slings not risk-free, U.S. agency warns

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 1:45pm CST

The U.S. government is preparing a safety warning about baby slings after concern that infants being carried in them could suffocate if they curl into certain positions.

Inuit TB rate 185 times higher

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 1:32pm CST

Tuberculosis remains a serious health problem in Canada's North, with the infection rate among Inuit 185 times greater than for others born in the country, a national analysis shows.

N.L. lab head quits after drug error fiasco

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 12:27pm CST

Dr. Nash Denic has resigned as head of laboratory services at Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health authority after a drug-testing fiasco in which lab officials are accused of reacting to the problem too slowly.

Doctor in mastectomy furor wants to operate

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 11:36am CST

The Windsor, Ont., surgeon at the heart of a controversy over unnecessary mastectomies has asked to have her hospital privileges reinstated, but is still waiting for an answer from hospital officials.

Superbug MRSA on rise in Canada

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 10:19am CST

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of cases of Canadians becoming infected or colonized by the superbug MRSA since 1995, both in hospitals and within the community, a study has found.

Eastern Health may discipline lab staff

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 6:30am CST

The head of a St. John's-based health authority plagued by a new set of laboratory mistakes says staff may be disciplined for failing to document problems and alert managers

B.C. to market health tourism

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 9:58pm CST

B.C. Health Minister Kevin Falcon says he has a plan to market health-care services to rich, offshore patients similar to the way the province sells higher education to foreign students.

Quebec criticized for hospital waits

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 9:49pm CST

Concerns over delayed surgeries and overcrowded emergency rooms dominated question period at Quebec's national assembly Tuesday, following the recent deaths of two patients - one waiting for heart surgery and the other, who had spent four days waiting on a stretcher in the ER.

Avastin fight now moves to P.E.I.

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 8:49pm CST

A cancer patient who successfully helped lobby the New Brunswick government to fund an expensive cancer drug is now shifting his focus to P.E.I. in an effort to have Avastin funded by that province.

Alberta Children's Hospital errors revealed

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 7:55pm CST

Failures to implement recommendations from previous incidents and poor communication led to unrelated errors - including two non-fatal drug overdoses - at the Alberta Children's Hospital, a review has concluded.

Flu shots for children protect adults: study

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 6:57pm CST

Vaccinating children against seasonal flu helps protect others in their community, a new Canadian study suggests.

Baby could have survived methadone OD: doctor

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 5:35pm CST

A baby girl's body began to shut down hours after swallowing a lethal dose of methadone in her Calgary home, a manslaughter trial has heard.

N.L. health staff slow on drug errors

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 5:11pm CST

A review of drug testing errors in Newfoundland and Labrador finds that Eastern Health Authority staff didn't react quickly enough when problems administering cyclosporine were first identified.

School pop campaign in U.S. cuts calories

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 5:06pm CST

Sales of sugary drinks have fallen in the U.S., the result of an effort to tackle obesity, the beverage industry says.

Virus can attack prostate cancer

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 2:31pm CST

Researchers in Alberta have successfully tested a new viral approach to treating prostate cancer in a small number of men.

Windsor nurses allege doctor made sexual comments

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 12:13pm CST

Windsor police are investigating allegations that an off-duty emergency room doctor at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital was intoxicated and made sexual advances to two nurses.

Tailored diet may slow DNA damage

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 12:13pm CST

Mounting evidence on the effect of micronutrients on DNA damage calls for a re-evaluation of recommended dietary intake values, say researchers.

Palin ridiculed for Canadian health care use

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 9:02pm CST

Sarah Palin's weekend admission that her family once travelled to Canada to receive treatment under the public health-care system she's so often demonized prompted skepticism and ridicule Monday among her critics in the U.S.

Quebec to address heart surgery delays

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 7:21pm CST

Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc is promising to reduce the waiting list for heart surgery in the province after a 65-year old patient died while on the waiting list for a relatively straightforward procedure.

Boy's rare disease inspires support group

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 6:38pm CST

A Calgary family whose son has a rare genetic disease is trying to bring together other Canadians suffering the same experiences.

Father of OD baby received methadone

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 5:27pm CST

A Calgary father accused in the overdose death of his 16-month-old daughter was being treated with methadone for a drug addiction, a court has been told.

Ont. throne speech promises 'foundation for growth'

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 5:22pm CST

Ontario's Liberal government will start its new legislative session with an ambitious five-year plan to create jobs, balance the budget, rein in health-care costs and attract more foreign students.

Add diabetes to Ont. school policy: parents

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 4:22pm CST

Some Ontario families with school-aged children requiring medical attention for conditions such as Type 1 diabetes have major concerns about a health and education policy currently under review.

Less weight gain by moderate-drinking women

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 2:43pm CST

Women younger than 50 who drink light to moderate amounts of alcohol appeared to gain less weight during a 13-year study, according to a U.S. study that adds to the conflicting messages about the effects of alcohol on health.

World without HIV babies 'possible by 2015'

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 2:39pm CST

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV could be eliminated in five years if the current rate of health investments are at least maintained, officials said Monday.

HIV hides in bone marrow cells

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 9:43am CST

The virus that causes AIDS can hide in the bone marrow, avoiding drugs and later awakening to cause illness, according to new research that could point the way to better treatments.

N.B. woman wins N.L. pathology negligence suit

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 8:20am CST

A New Brunswick woman has won a negligence lawsuit against a Newfoundland hospital and two pathologists after being told a mole she had removed was benign, only to find out six years later she had life-threatening skin cancer.

Canada expands recall of flavour-enhanced foods

Posted: March 7th, 2010, 9:37pm CST

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which is closely following a U.S. investigation and recall of foods containing hydrolyzed vegetable protein, has expanded its recall of products that contain the same flavour enhancer that may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

CFIA monitors flavour enhancer recall

Posted: March 6th, 2010, 10:57am CST

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it's closely following a U.S. investigation and recall of a flavour enhancer that may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

Blue Cross, Shoppers agree on drug reimbursements

Posted: March 6th, 2010, 10:11am CST

Medavie Blue Cross and Shoppers Drug Mart stores in Atlantic Canada have reached a tentative deal that would allow customers to continue to get reimbursed for their prescriptions at the pharmacies.

CFIA forced to detail flight by swine flu-infected agent

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 7:44pm CST

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency tried to withhold specific details about a commercial flight taken by an inspector who was infected with swine flu and was carrying samples of the virus, CBC News has learned.

Montreal Fashion Week has healthier look

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 6:13pm CST

Montreal's semi-annual fashion week had a healthier apperance as it wrapped up on Thursday night, said participants.

Polio vaccine drive starts in Africa

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 4:54pm CST

More than 85 million children under the age of five in 19 African countries will be vaccinated against polio, the World Health Organization says.

Warm weather sparks allergies

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 4:19pm CST

The winter cold and flu season may be drawing to a close, but many people in the Ottawa region won't be able to put away the tissues. The rapidly melting snow is uncovering moulds that can cause sneezing, wheezing, rashes and other allergic reactions.

Budget reassures health-care groups

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 3:12pm CST

Health-care experts welcomed the federal budget's commitment to transfer payments in the short term but warned Friday the increasing demands of the aging population remain.

Windsor hospital changes pre-op checklist

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 1:21pm CST

A hospital in Windsor, Ont., is changing its surgical checklist in light of at least two cases at another local hospital where women had a breast removed even though they did not have cancer.

'Epidemic' of vitamin D deficiency: MUHC study

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 1:20pm CST

A deficiency of vitamin D in study subjects has surprised doctors at the McGill University Health Centre.

Lengthy doctor suspension overruled

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 12:01pm CST

A three and a half year suspension given to a doctor found to have inappropriately prescribed narcotics is too long, P.E.I.'s Court of Appeal ruled Friday.

Wildlife medical products probe includes Canada

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 10:12am CST

Canada is one of 18 countries involved in an international sting operation targeting the illegal trade in wildlife medical products.

Safety measures planned for P.E.I. surgeries

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 5:22am CST

The P.E.I. Medical Society is hoping to implement a post-surgery checklist to go along with a pre-surgery one, in an effort to improve patient safety.

Man. pressed to fund obesity treatment

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 8:14pm CST

With obesity rates rising, governments will have to decide between paying for reduction operations such as lap banding now, or facing higher obesity-related costs later.

Low number of flu cases stymie experts

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 4:16pm CST

Doctors across Canada are reporting that there's been an unexpectedly low number of flu cases this season.

Drug errors unacceptable: N.L. minister

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 3:57pm CST

Newfoundland and Labrador's health minister says drug errors connected to the serious illness and hospitalization of at least one 14 year-old boy are unacceptable.

Metal-on-metal hip implants risky: surgeon

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 3:45pm CST

Artificial hips, known as metal-on-metal hip replacements, are setting off alarm bells among some patients and surgeons north and south of the border.

B.C. doctors offer to pay for OR nurses

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 12:17pm CST

Some B.C. doctors in the Kootenays are offering to pay out of their own pockets to keep nurses in operating rooms, according to an NDP MLA.

Gene implicated in bleeding disorder

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 12:04pm CST

Canadian researchers have pinpointed the genetic cause of a bleeding disorder known as Quebec Platelet Disorder (QPD).

Democrats threaten health-care bill over abortion

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 11:38am CST

A dozen Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives opposed to abortion say they are willing to bring down President Barack Obama's proposed health-care bill unless tighter language barring funding of the procedure is added.

Contaminated equipment found in operating room

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 11:02am CST

Contaminated surgical equipment has been found again at a B.C. Interior hospital, just two weeks after all non-emergency surgeries were cancelled in order to clean up the problem.

Hormone therapy linked to lung cancer risk

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 10:57am CST

Women who take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer, suggests new research, whether they smoked or not.

Frustrated immigrant doctors leaving P.E.I.

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 5:43am CST

Foreign-trained doctors and other health-care workers are leaving P.E.I. for other parts of the country because of their inability to get work, says an organization set up to welcome newcomers.

Mistaken mastectomy victim sues for $2.2M

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 9:38pm CST

A woman who underwent an unnecessary mastectomy at a Windsor, Ont., hospital is suing the hospital, the surgeon who performed the operation and another local hospital for a total $2.2 million.

Old epilepsy drug best for some kids

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 5:50pm CST

One of the oldest anti-seizure medications is best for treating a form of childhood epilepsy, a trial of three drugs shows.

Female stroke victims do worse than men without drug

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 5:05pm CST

Women who don't get a clot-busting drug after a stroke might fare worse than men who don't receive the drug, a University of Calgary study suggests

Hep C sufferers endangering health to get treatment

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 2:34pm CST

Health-care workers who treat hepatitis C are raising the alarm about patients who are binge drinking and taking dangerous herbal concoctions to try to inflame their own livers in a desperate bid to get provincial governments to pay for their medication.

1.2 million die on roads each year: WHO

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 2:28pm CST

Road accidents are the leading cause of death for youths from ages five to 29, and nearly half of the 1.2 million traffic fatalities each year are pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, the World Health Organization said.

Obama pushes health-care compromise

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 1:54pm CST

U.S. President Barack Obama urged Congress to pass a revised version of his health-care legislation that includes a number of Republican proposals.

Mouth-to-mouth with CPR best for kids: study

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 1:52pm CST

The old-fashioned version of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions may work better for children in cardiac arrest, a new study suggests.

Mistaken mastectomies 'horrific': McGuinty

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 10:58am CST

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says it's "horrific" that two women in the Windsor area had their breasts removed unnecessarily.

Childhood snacking on the increase

Posted: March 2nd, 2010, 6:17pm CST

Children eat an average of three snacks a day on top of meals, a U.S. study finds.

PCBs found in fish oil capsules, suit says

Posted: March 2nd, 2010, 5:08pm CST

Some fish oil capsules sold as as health supplements contain trace amounts of PCBs, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in California by an environmental group.

Inquest called into Ontario teen's death

Posted: March 2nd, 2010, 12:48pm CST

The case of an Ontario teen who died while being rushed to hospital after a car crash in the Niagara region will be probed by a coroner's inquest

Marketing works on preschoolers: study

Posted: March 2nd, 2010, 11:15am CST

Children as young as three years old are vulnerable to advertising, contrary to past research that suggested such marketing pressure only had an impact on older kids, according to a new U.S. study.

Self-managed care needs a push, author says

Posted: March 2nd, 2010, 10:17am CST

Author Wayson Choy shared his life and near-death experiences with a roomful of health-care professionals discussing self-managed care recently, telling them about his asthma and heart troubles and the cherished friends and family who helped with his recovery.

Shannon claimants await $2B TCE lawsuit decision

Posted: March 2nd, 2010, 8:07am CST

Federal lawyers have made a last bid to stop a class-action lawsuit over contaminated water in the military town of Shannon, Que.

Nut allergy results in removal from plane

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 7:00pm CST

A Calgary woman with a severe peanut allergy is upset that she was asked to leave a flight from Mexico last month after asking the flight attendants not to serve the snack to passengers.

Cancer patients face barriers to second opinions

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 6:09pm CST

Cancer patients are often told to get another doctor's diagnosis, but getting a second opinion is not always easy.

Cancer patients face barriers to 2nd opinions

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 6:09pm CST

Cancer patients are often told to get another doctor's diagnosis, but getting a second opinion is not always easy.

Stray cat credited in cancer diagnosis

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 5:02pm CST

When Judy Danchura opened her door last summer to a hungry stray cat in Winnipeg, that simple act of kindness became a turning point in her life and the start of a battle with cancer.

Obama's cholesterol count blamed on desserts

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 3:54pm CST

President Barack Obama is trying to walk off a marginally high cholesterol count.

Montreal hospital battles superbug

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 1:03pm CST

Montreal's Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital is dealing with a C. difficile outbreak that infected hundreds in the past year.

Pathology, mastectomy probe includes 3 top MDs

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 12:38pm CST

The Ontario government has appointed three doctors to investigate pathology reporting procedures at three Essex County hospitals, including the facility where a surgeon performed unnecessary mastectomies on at least two women.

Kids' robotic surgery system gets $10M

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 11:33am CST

The federal government announced a $10-million investment at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children on Monday to develop the Kids Arm robotic surgical system.

Too much media could hurt kids' health: study

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 11:17am CST

Children and teens spend about as much time with media as they do sleeping, and the overexposure could take a toll on their health, a new U.S. study suggests.

Tsunami warning ignored by swimmers

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 9:22am CST

People who defied beach warnings in Australia over the weekend may not understand the danger posed by tsunamis, says an expert calling for more research into risk behaviour and public education.

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