A stranger delivered CPR for 20 minutes to a Montreal man. His family wants to meet them
A Montreal family is looking for the Good Samaritan who saved octogenarian Sabato Borrelli’s life after he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest while out on his daily walk, out of his home in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough. Doctors told the family a…
Why wasn’t Joe Biden’s ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer spotted sooner? Experts weigh in
The late-stage cancer diagnosis of former U.S. president Joe Biden has some medical professionals wondering how the disease was able to go undetected when his health had been under intense scrutiny near the end of his presidency. In a statement…
Global pandemic accord adopted by WHO amid U.S. absence
Members of the World Health Organization adopted an agreement on Tuesday intended to improve preparedness for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to COVID-19, but the absence of the U.S. cast doubt on the treaty’s effectiveness. After three years…
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Dr. Peter Black of the Vancouver Prostate Centre on former President Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis
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This nurse visited Nanaimo with hundreds of other Americans. Now she wants to relocate there
On The Island7:32Texas nurse wants to move to Nanaimo BC is streamlining the process for US nurses to come work in BC. We hear from Rachael Smith-Taylor, who works as a registered nurse in Belton, Texas, but wants to move…
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Quebec women having hard time getting follow-up breast ultrasounds after mammograms
The province’s target for these appointments is three weeks or less, but according to Quebec’s public health institute, wait times vary. That’s creating concern, given that with cancer, time is of the essence.
Vaccine skepticism a growing concern, virologist warns amid rising measles caseload
Misinformation is making it hard for Canada to reach the vaccination levels needed to prevent the spread of measles, experts say as the country deals with the largest outbreak of the disease in almost three decades. Nationally, the country is dealing with the…
I never imagined my 4th pregnancy would be my first without a family doctor
This First Person article is the experience of Maggie Campbell, a wife and mom in P.E.I. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ. I could hear her heart beat thanks to an at-home fetal doppler….
Seasonal allergies are getting worse, but newer medications could offer relief
The Dose23:43Why are my allergies getting worse? Most people with seasonal allergies have likely noticed an uncomfortable trend over the past few years. In parts of Canada, allergy season not only seems to be lasting longer, it seems to be…
Measles outbreak will continue unless more people get vaccinated: Sask. chief medical officer
There have been 37 reported measles cases in Saskatchewan from mid-March to mid-May this year, Saskatchewan’s chief medical officer said at a news conference Friday, compared to only two cases from 2015 to 2024. Dr. Saqib Shahab said cases have…
Manitoba pharmacists will soon have ability to prescribe birth control, HIV medications
Pharmacists in Manitoba will soon be able to prescribe birth control, the province’s health minister revealed this week in an announcement that came as a pleasant surprise to the industry. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara told the legislature Wednesday that granting pharmacists the means to…
Inquest into UVic student’s fatal overdose recommends improvements to B.C. and campus emergency response
The jury in a British Columbia coroner’s inquest into the overdose death of a University of Victoria student has recommended a raft of measures for government, schools and B.C.’s emergency dispatch system. Key among the five-person jury’s recommendations released late Thursday…
Her son’s body lay in a supportive housing building for 3 days. Years later, she says little has changed
Shawn Richards died at the age of 37 after ingesting toxic drugs in the room of a supportive housing building where he was living in 2017. It took three days for staff to find his body. Shawn’s mother, Cyndie Richards, was…
WHO cuts management team in half, scales back operations
The World Health Organization has reduced its management team by half and will have to scale back operations, its director-general said on Wednesday, four months after the United States announced it was leaving the agency and cutting funding. “To be…
1 in 5 youth in Canada face frequent bullying, UNICEF says
A global study from UNICEF suggests many Canadian kids are unhappy, with social struggles such as bullying and difficulty making friends among the sources of their anguish. UNICEF’s 19th Report Card suggests one in five youth in Canada face frequent…
B.C ostrich farm ‘devastated’ after federal judge rules cull of nearly 400 birds can proceed
A B.C. ostrich farm says it is devastated by a federal court ruling Tuesday that upholds an order to have the nearly 400-bird flock killed due to the detection of avian flu, and hopes to continue to fight the case…
B.C. fast-tracks process for U.S. nurses to get registered in province
The province is making it easier and faster for nurses from the U.S. to get registered in B.C., in an effort to bring more health-care workers north. During a news conference on Monday, Premier David Eby said “uncertainty” related to U.S. President…
First Nations leaders want drinking water bill within 100 days of Parliament’s return
First Nations leaders are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to tackle a number key priorities in the first 100 days of Canada’s new Parliament. “All these priorities are in line with Prime Minister Carney’s stated priorities, namely: economic development, housing, infrastructure…
Why are measles case counts climbing so high in Alberta? Experts weigh in
Infectious disease experts are raising the alarm about measles spread in Alberta, warning case counts are far higher than neighbouring provinces and they’re increasing rapidly. Alberta reported 116 more measles cases last week, pushing Alberta’s total of confirmed cases to 326 as…
Ontario faces new push to eliminate hospital parking fees, but policy questions remain
When Marie Grgic’s mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer, she said her father had to use his retirement funds to finance costs related to her treatment. Cancer costs the average patient nearly $33,000, which includes out-of-pocket expenses and lost income,…
For 3 months, the psychiatric ward was my reality. I lost my freedom, but not hope
This First Person column is the experience of Luke Galati, who lives in Toronto. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ. The psychiatric ward is a place no one wants to be. But it’s a…
2nd child from Gaza arrives in Manitoba with family for ‘life-changing’ medical care: premier
A second family from Gaza has arrived in Manitoba to get “life-changing” medical care for their kindergarten-aged son they couldn’t access at home, as part of what Premier Wab Kinew called a “humanitarian corridor” to the province opened in response to…
Why doctors and researchers say Canada needs to change course on women’s health studies
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. Despite a rule that requires…
Health authorities warn against potential serious risks of hair-loss drug
U.S. and European health regulators are warning the public of possible health risks linked to finasteride, a popular hair-loss drug. The European Medicines Agency issued an alert on Thursday, stating it had confirmed suicidal thoughts as a side effect of finasteride tablets….
IWK breast cancer research team investigating why N.S. death rates are highest in Canada
The IWK is launching a new research unit aimed at helping patients with breast cancer across Nova Scotia. The idea came from Dr. Gregory Knapp, a surgical oncologist at the IWK and Victoria General Hospital who moved back to Halifax in…
B.C.’s 911 software too slow to recommend CPR, says witness at inquest into student’s overdose death
An expert in emergency medicine testified at the Sidney McIntyre-Starko coroner’s inquest that software used by British Columbia 911 operators takes too long to recommend potentially life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Dr. Michael Kurz said the medical priority dispatch system (MPDS) that…
Chester nursing home will have only 6 more beds than aging facility it’s replacing
The foundation of the new long-term care facility in Chester, N.S., is nearly complete, a milestone in a development the community has wanted for nearly two decades. The new Shoreham Village will replace the aging building next door, which — at…
Health minister, premier defend Ontario’s response to worsening measles outbreak
Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Premier Doug Ford defended on Wednesday the province’s approach to the measles outbreak as new infections increase sharply and criticism mounts. Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, told Radio-Canada in an interview earlier…
Overdose deaths are falling. Will fentanyl crackdowns change that?
It’s hard to believe opioid deaths are dropping when you’re walking on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where B.C.’s drug crisis is most visible. Open drug use is still common and on a dry day, you can count on seeing dozens of people…
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Quebec to renovate aging Montreal hospital after mounting pressure — but doubts remain
The CAQ government has come up with $85 million to make upgrades to the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital. The first phase of renovations would modernize the hospital’s parking lot, but opposition parties are questioning the government’s plan.
JAMP pregabalin pain pills recalled over overdose risk
JAMP Pharma Corp. says it is recalling one lot of its pregabalin pain medication because some bottles labelled to contain 50-milligram capsules may contain 150-milligram capsules instead. The mislabelled product could lead to patients receiving a much larger dose than prescribed, which could…
Alberta government beefs up measles defence as cases rival 1980s levels
The Alberta government says it is taking new steps to rein in the province’s measles outbreaks as case counts surge to the highest levels since 1987. The province reported an additional 55 cases on Monday, pushing the total since the…
Northern Sask. couple gives new meaning to ‘perfect match’ with kidney donation
A northern couple who have been together for a decade were happy to learn they were the perfect match for kidney donation. Crystal Morin-Marinuk and her husband Darwin Morin have been together for 10 years. They have been dealing with…
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Robotic surgery centre using AI opens at Montreal hospital
The McGill University Health Centre’s Surgical Performance Enhancement and Robotics Centre is hoping to “contribute to the shaping of the future of surgery” with the use of cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence.
Why more Canadians are getting divorced later in life
The Current23:33Grey divorce: Why more Canadians are separating later in life When Marnie Wraith looked at her relationship and asked herself if good enough was enough for her, she knew she needed a change. “I needed a recalibration of my…
As adults, making friends can be challenging. Here are 6 steps to help you find your squad
55:49What questions do you have about making friends as an adult? For adults, making new friends can be an uphill battle. Gone are the default spaces like school, extracurricular clubs or teams, student residence halls and other spots kids, teens…
Step up measles vaccinations, say doctors as outbreaks accelerate in Ontario, Alberta
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. Doctors are urging public health…
How a Canadian cliff diver used empowering messages to help overcome mental health struggle
Several years ago, Molly Carlson enjoyed posting “perfectly captured and edited pictures” to her Instagram account. Faking, she says, almost a perfect life. But Carlson developed a binge-eating disorder before Canada’s 2016 Olympic diving trials while struggling with anxiety and…
Halifax hospitals face backlash from staff over parking woes
Two unions representing workers at Halifax hospital sites say parking problems for employees are so acute that it will become a staffing retention issue if solutions aren’t found soon. The Houston government made good on an election campaign promise Thursday by…
Measles jumps by 65 cases in Elgin and Oxford Counties, totalling above 1,200 across Ontario
The measles outbreak continues to spread across the province, with cases climbing in Elgin and Oxford counties. Southwestern Public Health is reporting 65 additional cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 451 for the region since Oct. 30. “This sharp rise…
B.C. premier announces review of mental health legislation in wake of Vancouver festival tragedy
In the wake of the Vancouver festival tragedy that left 11 dead, several injured, and people around the world grieving, B.C.’s premier said there will be a review of the province’s mental health legislation to ensure it’s working the way…
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Renewed calls for renovations at Montreal hospital after backup generators failed during storm
Strong winds knocked the power out at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, leaving the intensive care unit and surgery block in the dark for over an hour. The facility’s backup generators weren’t functioning properly.
Northern Health hit with court order after failing to respond to request about care home conditions
B.C.’s privacy watchdog has taken the unusual step of issuing a court order compelling the province’s Northern Health Authority to respond to freedom of information requests about the conditions at a long-term care facility it operates in Fort St. John,…
Class action lawsuit over housing on First Nations in court this week
A class action lawsuit against Canada for failing to provide adequate housing on First Nations land is being heard in Federal Court this week in Winnipeg. St. Theresa Point First Nation in Manitoba and Sandy Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario filed the lawsuit…
Alberta’s flu death toll highest in at least 16 years as vaccination rates drop
Alberta has experienced its deadliest flu season in recent memory and it’s not over yet. According to provincial data, 193 Albertans have died due to influenza so far this season, surpassing last year’s total of 175. That’s the highest death toll…
Toronto gynecologist linked to infection exposure resigns from college amid investigations
A Toronto doctor under investigation after thousands of people were potentially exposed to blood-borne infections at her gynecology office has resigned from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, CBC News has learned. The college investigated Dr. Esther Park’s…
Doctor operating safer supply clinics billed OHIP $2.5M last year
A doctor running a network of addiction clinics across Ontario, including an Ottawa location that offers safer opioid supply, is billing public insurance about $2.5 million per year. Dr. Suman Koka is the sole officer and director of Northwood Recovery,…
New momentum to ease labour mobility rules worries some Manitoba health-care leaders
Federal party leaders and provincial governments are trying to make it easier for workers to seamlessly move between provinces as a response to U.S. tariffs, but some health-care leaders in Manitoba aren’t enthusiastic. “It just worries me that nurses are going…
Whole-body deodorant is no fix for accepting that everybody stinks sometimes
The Dose24:04Why do we smell (and how concerned should we be about it)? As the weather warms up and we start to spend more time outdoors, many of us will be reminded that people have a tendency to smell. Pharmaceutical…
Got accessibility issues with voting? Here’s what you might need to know
Karthik Babu Menon is ready to vote in his first-ever federal election, but he’s not just thinking about how to mark his ballot, but also about the potential challenges he might face in getting into the voting booth. In previous…
A cancer diagnosis can also be a ‘financial double-whammy.’ Here’s what advocates want to change
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. A quarter of a million…
Alberta in the midst of worst measles outbreak since 1997 as doctors call for action
Alberta’s measles outbreak is now the worst recorded in nearly three decades and that has health experts raising the alarm and renewing calls for stronger messaging from the provincial government. The surge is so concerning, Alberta’s former chief medical officer…
Quebec passes law requiring doctors to work in the public system for 5 years after med school
Quebec has officially passed a law requiring doctors to work in the public health-care system for five years after obtaining a medical degree in the province. Bill 83, adopted on Thursday by a vote of 72 to 30, is intended…
Do I need a third dose of the measles vaccine? And other common questions answered
It’s only April, and 2025 is already shaping up to be the worst year for measles since the disease was declared eliminated in 1998 in Canada. Ontario continues to be the epicentre of the spread. Public Health Ontario is reporting…
Fentanyl is the poison that killed my brother and many others. I want my vote to save lives
Richard Anderson holds a photo of himself and his brother Bruce as children. In 2021, Bruce died of a suspected overdose while in a drug treatment centre in Kelowna, B.C. (Michelle Mac Donald) This First Person column is written by…
‘I am horrified’: Why autistic people say RFK Jr.’s comments on autism are so dangerous
Can autistic people hold down jobs, pay taxes or find love? Many do — but the question we should be asking, according to waves of advocates, allies and autistic people voicing their concerns online, is why are we defining a person’s worth…
Quebec says measles outbreak has ended
Quebec’s Health Ministry has declared an end to the measles outbreak in the province. A spokesperson said Tuesday the department determined the outbreak was over after no new cases were reported over the weekend. Marie-Christine Patry says an outbreak can be…
15-year-old’s suspected drug overdose likely involved hydromorphone and cough medicine, RCMP say
RCMP say a 15-year-old has died of a suspected drug overdose in Campbell River, B.C., believed to involve the prescription opioid hydromorphone and cough medicine. Const. Maury Tyre with the Campbell River RCMP says in a statement that it’s important for…
Desperate to walk again, this 25-year-old Ontario woman is ready to pay $40K for U.S. spinal assessment
A London woman injured in a car crash says she’s left with no choice but to pay to see a doctor in the United States after waiting almost two years for a diagnosis from an Ontario spine surgeon. Sydney Gesualdi…
Reproductive health advocates praise Liberal pledges but caution more details needed
Liberal Party pledges to make an access to abortion fund permanent, spend up to $20,000 for IVF treatment and invest in data collection on issues like menopause are welcomed initiatives, some women’s health advocates say. But they also cautioned that the party needs to release more details,…
Canadians heading to vote face sticker shock for primary care at private clinics
Ahead of the federal election, Canadians are worried about access to health care. Some private clinics, which are growing in number, charge thousands a year for primary care and out-of-pocket fees, as many people struggle with a soaring cost of living. An…
N.S. lung recipient says costs around transplant hammered retirement savings
A Nova Scotia woman recovering from a lung transplant says she had to take tens of thousands of dollars from her retirement fund in order to undergo the life-saving procedure because provincial medical allowances fall far short of her expenses. Nan Clarke, who is originally…
Alberta appoints interim chief medical officer of health as province grapples with measles outbreaks
The Alberta government appointed Dr. Sunil Sookram as interim chief medical officer of health Thursday amid growing measles outbreaks and after the previous top doctor left the role earlier this week. Sookram takes over for Dr. Mark Joffe, whose contract ended on Monday, after it…
From salt in food to transfer payments: Here’s what Ottawa has power over when it comes to your health
The Dose22:15What do I need to know about the federal government’s role in health care? Most Canadians know it’s a provincial or territorial health card they carry in their wallets, not a federal one. Still, the election April 28 does…
Food is medicine: IWK receives hundreds of suggestions on how to change menu
The IWK Health Centre says it has been bombarded with feedback as it looks to overhaul its menu. The Halifax hospital for women and children launched a survey in March, asking current and former IWK families to weigh in on…
Quebec could soon declare measles outbreak over after no new cases in weeks
Quebec’s Health Ministry says it’s on the verge of declaring its measles outbreak over, just as cases reach new heights in other parts of the country. The province says it has not recorded a new measles case since it hit…
Ontario reports over 100 new measles cases, bringing total to 925
Measles pread to 109 more people in Ontario over the last week, bringing the province’s total cases to 925 since an outbreak began in October. Sixty-nine people have required hospitalization — that’s eight more than last week — including four…
What people with disabilities want to hear from party leaders in this election
Election day is less than two weeks away, but Rowena Edwards is still unsure who she should vote for. “Honestly, I don’t like any candidates,” the 63-year-old told CBC News through an email interview. Edwards is one of more than…
WHO members agree on deal to tackle future pandemics
Members of the World Health Organization reached a landmark agreement on Wednesday on how to learn from COVID-19, which killed millions of people in 2020-22, and prepare the world for future pandemics. Sticking points on the road to the deal…
Open letter to federal leaders from Manitoba researchers gets support from hundreds of Canadian academics
An open letter from a group of Manitoba researchers has garnered support from hundreds of other scientists and academics across the country, sounding the alarm about the effects of research cuts in the U.S. on Canadian research and urging federal political…
Kids could be breathing in plasticizer chemicals from their mattresses, new study suggests
Babies and children up to age four could be breathing in plasticizers and other chemicals from their mattresses while they sleep, a Canadian study suggests. Federal regulations set limits on some phthalates or plasticizers, which are substances added to products to…
B.C. health-care workers’ CRA accounts hacked after 28,000 social insurance numbers stolen in data breach
Nurse Leslie Warner will never forget being taken to her local RCMP detachment in Fernie, B.C., in 2022 and charged in a social security fraud operating out of Alberta. She says she was fingerprinted and had her mug shot taken. “I…
Toxic drug deaths highly personal — and political — as B.C. marks 9 years since public health emergency began
Nine years ago, former B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall declared a public health emergency in response to a sharp increase in deaths related to toxic drugs and drug overdoses. Overdose deaths had been climbing steadily since 2010; the 474…
‘Unprecedented growth’ in Canadian food banks prompts calls for it to be a top federal election issue
Demand for the services of local food banks has never been higher, and Carolyn McLeod-McCarthy of the Guelph Food Bank says she’s worried about the impact U.S. tariffs will have on the local economy and workers. “We’re quite nervous about…
45 years later, Terry Fox’s brother retraces the first steps of the Marathon of Hope
On April 12, 1980, Terry Fox wrote in his diary, “Today is the day it all begins,” after starting his Marathon of Hope in St. John’s. On Saturday, Terry’s older brother Fred Fox returned to Mile 0, the place where it all…
Want to be sedated (for surgery)? Anesthesia assistants could help shorten wait times
White Coat Black Art26:30Meet the people who help sedate you One solution to a critical shortage of anesthesiologists in Canada could lie with increasing the ranks of anesthesia assistants, advocates say. “In a situation where we have a serious ……
Measles outbreaks spark concern over rare ‘horrific’ neurological disorder
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. Dr. Michelle Barton has been…
Health care’s taking a backseat in this election. That’s a missed opportunity, expert says
White Coat Black Art26:30Public healthcare is a national crisis. So why isn’t it an election priority? In this federal election period, the twists and turns of tariffs, annexation threats and other surprises from the Trump administration have stolen focus from…
Author, gynecologist Jen Gunter says she’s moving back to Canada as reproductive rights erode in U.S.
A Winnipeg-born gynecologist and bestselling author says she’s had enough with the United States, but she’s also prescribing a stark warning for Canadian voters concerned about the future of their own reproductive health care. Dr. Jen Gunter, whose books include The Vagina…
Ontario measles case count tops 800, 155 new infections since last week
Ontario is reporting 155 new measles cases over the last week, pushing the province’s case count to 816 since an outbreak began in the fall. The number of new cases has increased again after a few weeks of appearing to…
Canada must seize ‘window of opportunity’ to attract U.S. scientists, health-care workers: medical association
Canada has a unique chance to become a medical and scientific powerhouse — if it moves quickly to scoop up professionals leaving the United States in the wake of health cuts and layoffs, the head of the Canadian Medical Association…
It’s about bloody time we talked about periods and climate
What On Earth28:11It’s about bloody time we talked about periods and climate Billions of disposable menstrual products are used on a daily basis, and the environmental impact is significant. But experts and advocates say the key to solving the problem…
Doctor says political mayhem in the U.S. pushed her to come home to New Brunswick
Dr. Sophia Halassy couldn’t be happier. The 32-year old bilingual obstetrician-gynecologist is settling into a new job at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton, helping to tackle a years-long waiting list of patients. This is a homecoming for Halassy, her husband…
3 pharmacists linked to Thunder Bay pharmacy now face misconduct allegations by Ontario regulator
Multiple pharmacists linked to a south Thunder Bay, Ont., pharmacy face an additional set of misconduct allegations by the profession’s provincial regulator, including falsifying records. One pharmacist also faces allegations of taking or misappropriating drugs from the shop on Victoria…
Ontario schools begin suspending students who aren’t fully vaccinated
Ontario schools are starting to issue suspensions to some of the thousands of students who aren’t fully vaccinated, as the spread of measles continues, giving new urgency to calls for the province to digitize its immunization record system. Toronto Public Health…
Ontario’s measles outbreak is so big, even New York health officials are taking notice
Ontario’s measles outbreak has become so big that public health officials in New York state have included the province in a travel advisory that urges residents to get vaccinated before visiting. “Measles is only a car ride away!” reads the…
With 8.7 million birds dead, B.C. farmers assess avian flu toll, and worry about what’s next
There is a window of relief for British Columbia farmers from the devastating waves of avian flu, leaving them to assess the toll of outbreaks spanning more than three years that saw millions of birds culled at hundreds of farms. Farmers and…
How to deal with the intense stress of political, economic uncertainty
The Dose25:07How do I deal with stress in situations I can’t fully control? Political science professor Julie Simmons is no stranger to stressful current events. Though she’s active in discussions around Canada’s current federal election campaign, Simmons says it’s the…
U.S. health secretary heads to Texas after 2nd unvaccinated child dies of measles-related illness
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. travelled to West Texas on Sunday after a second unvaccinated school-aged child died from a measles-related illness. Ahead of a “Make America Healthy Again” tour across the southwestern United States, Kennedy said in…
Burnaby, B.C., spa employee who offered vaginal-tightening guilty on 7 counts of sexual assault
A Burnaby spa employee who provided purported vaginal-tightening treatments has been found guilty on all seven charges of sexual assault by a B.C. Supreme Court jury. Farshad Khojsteh Kashani was first charged in 2022 after two clients of Fab Skin Care complained to police…
Top American scientists just lost their jobs. Canada is rolling out the welcome mat
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. Many top scientists in the…
Ontario measles cases exceed 600
Health officials in three Ontario hotspots for measles are focusing on communication and vaccination to help get the outbreaks under control. Public Health Ontario on Thursday reported 89 new cases of measles since March 26, bringing the province’s total of confirmed and probable…
Number of non-fatal overdoses Toronto paramedics respond to is declining, city data shows
Recent city data shows the number of non-fatal suspected overdoses paramedics respond to has declined over the last six months. The figures were collected by Toronto Public Health in collaboration with Toronto Paramedic Services using the calls it receives each month. In September,…
Family denied Jordan’s Principle funds for Thunder Bay, Ont., girl’s autism therapy fears she’ll stop talking
Patrick Cully wasn’t sure his daughter Scarlet would ever be able to say, “I love you.” But she’s now talking, thanks to applied behaviour analysis (ABA) therapy in Thunder Bay, Ont., where the four-year-old lives with her parents, and a $190,000…
American doctors look to Nova Scotia amid Trump uncertainty
Nova Scotia’s health authority says it has hired one doctor eager to leave the United States because of President Donald Trump, and is in talks with more than two dozen more. The authority launched a digital recruiting campaign in the…
Shingles vaccine tied to fewer dementia diagnoses, study in Wales suggests
Scientists may have produced the strongest evidence yet that the shingles vaccine is linked to reduced dementia risk. Using the health records of more than 280,000 older adults in Wales, researchers found those who received the shingles vaccine were 20…
Doctors say some Sask. adults need measles booster shots
Saskatchewan adults might not have sufficient immunity to the latest measles outbreak and are being asked to check their vaccination records and get a booster shot if needed. Cases of measles, which is highly contagious and can lead to serious…
It’s my dream to become a nurse, but the unpaid work nearly broke me
This First Person column is by Eyasu Yakob, who is a nursing student in Edmonton. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ. I began nursing school in 2021 at the University of Alberta during the…
Fungal diseases ‘growing increasingly resistant to treatment,’ WHO says
Some fungal diseases in humans no longer respond to medicines, which increases the risk of severe illness and death as well disease spread, according to a new report. On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) published what it calls its…
First Nation in Ontario has no space for alcohol-drug detox centre, so dozens being helped at a hotel
Community support worker Kyle Arnold says detoxing from drugs is one of the hardest things he’s ever done, but seeing dozens of members of Long Lake #58 First Nation going through withdrawal together in a safe space “is absolutely beautiful.”…
N.B. woman never expected to have to fight to donate kidney to cousin in Ontario
When Susannah McKenzie-Sutter heard her cousin in Ontario needed a kidney transplant, the 28-year-old Saint John woman didn’t hesitate to offer one of hers. She hasn’t kept in close touch with McKenzie Smith in recent years but has fond childhood memories of…
Quebec cancer patient’s fight to save home shows how costly a diagnosis can be
Bianca Buitrago-Poulin is celebrating her successful massage studio’s one-year anniversary on Montreal’s South Shore this month. But it hasn’t been easy. It’s a business she started out of necessity — a last-ditch effort to save her family home, continue caring…
Supervised drug consumption sites win injunction, can stay open for now amid Charter challenge
An Ontario judge has granted an injunction to keep 10 supervised consumption sites open while he considers a Charter challenge of a new provincial law that bans the sites from operating within 200 metres of schools or daycares. Justice John…
What you should know about benzos before you take them
The Dose19:40What do I need to know about benzodiazepines? Within 10 minutes of disclosing his sleepless nights to his family doctor, Georges Marcoux had a little white pill in his hand. His doctor in Shediac, N.B., prescribed him a sleeping…
Parents, midwives mourn closure of family birth unit at Montreal’s Notre-Dame Hospital
It cost $25 million to build, but barely a year after its opening and less than six months in operation, the family birth unit at Montreal’s Notre-Dame Hospital is closed for good. The CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, which oversees the hospital,…
Social media suggests seed oils — like canola — are bad for you. More science is saying otherwise
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. There’s a sizzling debate on…
An 18-year-old boxer died after a knockout in Montreal. The fight should’ve never happened
At the end of the fourth round in a six-round fight on Aug. 28, 2021, Jeanette Zacarias Zapata went into convulsions. A left uppercut and a right hook from her opponent were among the string of punches that had become…
With peer support, Hamilton hospital helps build trust, provide comfort for those in substance use program
Marcie McIlveen never thought she’d work in a hospital. Due to her negative experiences in treatment for substance use disorder on about 14 occasions, “I hated health care, did not like it, wanted nothing to do with it,” McIlveen said. What…
B.C. city buys health clinic to help community retain and recruit new doctors
The Cure is a CBC News series examining strategies provinces and territories are using to tackle the primary care crisis. A group of doctors in British Columbia’s northeast, with the help of city council, has saved a clinic from closure — and…
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What could actually help you quit vaping?
7 days ago News Duration 2:55 Originally touted as a healthier option than cigarettes, statistics show vaping’s popularity is rising among young people in Quebec. Health experts say it’s now become a public health issue, and they’re trying to develop…
5 years after COVID-19 started, parents and experts say the impact on kids remains
Weekly tutoring sessions. Reluctance to see friends in person. These are just some ways in which the educational impacts of COVID-19 still linger for Katherine Korakakis and her children, 14-year-old Bella and 17-year-old Nathan. “We’re spending probably close to $400 a week for…
Amid Canada’s largest measles outbreak in more than a decade, experts say this COVID-era tool could help
As Canada deals with its largest measles outbreak in more than a decade, health experts say a COVID-era tool could help tame the spread. Wastewater surveillance, which involves testing sewage samples for viral pathogens, became essential during the pandemic. The data…
Married 41 years and racked with pain, N.B. couple said goodbye together using MAID
Around 10:45 on the morning of Feb. 25, Lee Goguen asked her father if he had any last requests. The death that was coming to 70-year-old Gerald Goguen was the death he had chosen weeks in advance and his wife of 41…
Longtime N.S. volunteer firefighter battling cancer won’t receive compensation
When Bruce Masales was diagnosed with Stage 4 bladder cancer, he says the news came without warning. But as a longtime volunteer Halifax firefighter, Masales said he at least took comfort in the belief he would receive financial compensation. However, Masales said…
Chilliwack mother enduring multiple seizures faces year-and-a-half wait for epilepsy procedure
Wietske Flor goes through every day wondering when the next seizure will hit. Sometimes, the seizures happen multiple times a day. Sometimes, days will go by without one, leaving her on guard and waiting for the inevitable. It means the…
Beyond long COVID — how reinfections could be causing silent long-term organ damage
Quirks and Quarks19:30Beyond long COVID — how reinfections could be causing silent long term organ damage COVID may no longer be considered an official global emergency, but mounting scientific evidence suggests every COVID infection a person gets increases their risk of…
Canada drops to 18th in 2025 World Happiness Report rank, among the ‘largest losers’
Canada has slipped to 18th place in the global World Happiness Report, down three spots from last year and placing it among the “largest losers” in happiness rankings over the last two decades, according to the annual report released Thursday. At…
Fired Alberta health care CEO claims ‘malicious and bad faith allegations’ by health minister
In an 11-page court document filed Thursday, the former CEO of Alberta Health Services alleges the province’s health minister and AHS have crafted a narrative about her that is “completely unfounded, entirely fictitious, malicious” and replete with “bad faith allegations.”…
There are daily pills to prevent HIV — but injectable options could change what prevention looks like
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. Once a day, Tim Lagman…
Why higher measles vaccination coverage matters so much now
Measles is so infectious that when under-vaccinated individuals mingle, they’ll always be at risk. That’s why public health officials are stressing the importance of high vaccination rates amid backsliding and growing outbreaks. The disease is spreading across the country, with hundreds…
B.C. has recruited hundreds of family doctors. It’s still not enough
When Jennie Passche gets sick, she finds herself in a competition to get care. The 65-year-old in Esquimalt, on B.C.’s Vancouver Island, says she has to wake up early to call her community’s urgent and primary care centre, which opened…
Hundreds of nurses rally outside Ontario hospitals to demand safer staffing levels
Hundreds of nurses rallied outside several Ontario hospitals on Thursday to demand that CEOs improve staffing levels across the province. The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), which represents 68,000 registered nurses, health care professionals and student affiliates, said it wants hospital leaders to…
Highest case count of measles in Ontario is south of London, with overall numbers climbing
The health unit for Oxford County, Elgin County and the City of St. Thomas is dealing with almost half of the measles cases in Ontario with 228 people infected, predominantly in unvaccinated kids. The medical officer of health for Southwestern Public…
How province kept rein on health contracting, despite what Danielle Smith says
The provincial government has for years kept a hand in the contracting-out of private surgeries through Alberta Health Services, despite repeated comments by the premier and health minister that any potential issues with procurement are AHS’s own responsibility. Multiple documents…
Astronauts’ 9-month stay in space could help with healthier mission to Mars
As astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams get their land legs back on Earth, the effects of being stranded in space for nine months — and their recovery — will give scientists a chance to improve preparations for eventual, and even longer, space flights, say experts….
Concern grows over low measles vaccination rates in parts of B.C.
Scientists are raising the alarm over low measles vaccination rates in parts of B.C. as concern grows over outbreaks in Ontario and Texas. Health officials in Ontario say there have been 350 cases of the virus in the province since…
‘It’s the perfect storm’: Doctors urge measles vaccinations as Alberta case counts rise
As concerns about measles grow, and case counts tick up, health-care workers are preparing for a surge and pleading with Albertans to ensure they’re fully vaccinated. According to Alberta Health there were 13 confirmed cases in the province as of midday Tuesday, including…
Under the microscope: Looking at B.C.’s wastewater surveillance for viruses
Testing wastewater for diseases and viral activity gained prominence during the pandemic, but scientists are concerned that funding for such work could be threatened. Monitoring wastewater for pathogens — and even illicit and prescription drugs — was around for decades before…
U.S. reports 1st outbreak of deadly H7N9 bird flu since 2017
The United States reported the first outbreak of the deadly H7N9 bird flu on a poultry farm since 2017, as the country continues to grapple with another bird flu strain that has infected humans and caused egg prices to hit…
Vancouver protesters ask for more funding, research into long COVID
Protesters demanding the government provide more funding and treatment for people with long COVID gathered at a demonstration at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Saturday. Long COVID is a chronic condition that can lead to debilitating symptoms, like brain fog and…
Thinking about creatine supplements for your workout? Here’s what you need to know
The Dose22:51What does the research show about the benefits of creatine supplements? Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that provides energy to our muscles and brain, but it also comes in supplement form. It’s long been used by athletes and…
Elderly patients can deteriorate hourly in the ER. This team works against the clock to get them out
White Coat Black Art26:30Saving elderly patients from the hazards of the ER It’s 7 a.m. in the emergency department of St. Mary’s Hospital in Montreal, and geriatric nurse Leeza Paolone is starting her day in front of a screen filled…
‘It was life and death’: McNeil, Strang reflect on early handling of COVID-19 pandemic
As anxiety grew among Nova Scotians over the fear of the arrival of COVID-19 in early March 2020, Premier Stephen McNeil wanted to meet with a public health official he barely knew. That person’s name? Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer…
Alberta Health Services calls wrongful dismissal suit filed by former CEO ‘groundless and vexatious’
Alberta Health Services alleges the wrongful dismissal suit of the organization’s former CEO is “groundless” and an attempt to extract a larger severance payment. In a statement of defence filed Friday in Edmonton’s Court of King’s Bench, the provincial health…
Ontario urging measles vaccinations amid worst outbreak in more than a decade
The province’s chief medical officer of health is urging Ontarians to make sure they are immunized against the measles, amid the most severe outbreak in the province in more than a decade. In a statement Friday, Dr. Kieran Moore said there have…
Alberta looking to save $400M in doctor payments, medical association president says in memo
The Alberta government wants to cut more than $400 million in the fees it pays to doctors, according to a confidential memo obtained by The Canadian Press. The Feb. 18 memo, sent by Alberta Medical Association head Dr. Shelley Duggan…
Patients of Toronto gynecologist linked to infection risk say they flagged negative experiences years earlier
Years before some 2,500 patients of a Toronto gynecologist were warned about a possible infection risk linked to improperly cleaned tools, Rachael Millanta filed a complaint about her experience at the clinic. After CBC Toronto was first to report on Dr. Esther…
2 die on Victoria streets little more than an hour apart as Island Health issues drug toxicity warning
Two people died a little over an hour apart in Victoria on Monday, Victoria police and the B.C. Coroners Service have confirmed. An outreach worker says the city’s enforcement of anti-sheltering bylaws has made it more difficult for support workers to help those…
The private cost of public service: how sharing science about COVID put experts in the crosshairs
Dr. Alex Wong vividly remembers the night, five years ago, when he read modelling data about the potential surge of COVID-19 positive patients in Saskatchewan. His kids were sleeping peacefully, unaware of what was coming. “[It] basically showed that we were going…
B.C. aims to poach U.S. doctors and nurses by highlighting ‘uncertainty and chaos’ south of the border
British Columbia has turned its eye toward luring doctors and nurses from the United States to move north in what Health Minister Josie Osborne is calling an “unprecedented” recruitment opportunity. Osborne says the province is changing its licensing rules so U.S.-trained…
Life has gone back to normal. But those with long COVID continue to suffer
When Nathanael Rafinejad first moved to Montreal, they loved the city’s nightlife and worked as a bartender and a waiter while studying business management. But after catching COVID-19 in January 2022, the 29-year-old is now mostly confined to their apartment….
Hantavirus: What it is, how it spreads, how often it’s fatal
Hantavirus, the rodent-borne pathogen blamed for the death of concert pianist Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, is a rare but often fatal virus that has killed at least 34 people in Canada over the past three decades. Arakawa,…
Midwifery training in Nova Scotia? Education, health officials are talking options
Conversations are happening in Nova Scotia about developing the first midwifery education program east of Quebec. Documents released to CBC News under freedom of information laws show correspondence between provincial officials in recent months that mention Mount Saint Vincent University…
5 years after first cases, Manitoba families who lost loved ones to COVID-19 still feel missed moments
Retired nurse Valerie Alderson doesn’t find herself thinking back to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic anymore, but when someone brings it up, “it’s a flashback of what has happened.” That includes the death of her 82-year-old dad, Lloyd…
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Medical researchers working to reverse ‘the Newfoundland curse’
Stem cell researchers are trying to reverse a deadly genetic variant that’s plagued families in this province for generations. Those who carry the mutation say the medical research is straight out of science fiction.
Stiff penalty: B.C. sex shop fined $1M for selling Viagra and Cialis as natural health products
In defence of the Cialis and Viagra he was accused of passing off as “natural health” remedies, Yan (Andy) Zhang claimed he took one of the products himself — “almost daily.” The owner of four Lower Mainland sex shops said he had “no adverse…
A play-by-play of how measles outbreaks can spiral out of control
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. Measles infections are ticking up and…
Over 450 homeless people died in B.C. in 2023, according to coroner
The annual death toll of people experiencing homelessness in British Columbia has nearly tripled in just a four-year period, according to the B.C. Coroners Service. A new report says at least 458 homeless people died in 2023, up 23 per…
Health-care groups criticize B.C. budget’s unkept promises but express relief over lack of cuts
In the fall provincial election campaign, Premier David Eby and NDP candidates made bold promises for investments to improve the health-care system in order to address staff shortages and gaps in vital services. But patient groups and health-care workers who…
Ontario court approves major $32.5B tobacco settlement
A historic deal that calls for three major tobacco companies to pay out billions in compensation to provinces and territories as well as former smokers across Canada has cleared its final legal hurdle in Ontario, bringing a decades-long court saga…
Getting diagnosed with cancer in your 20s and 30s can be isolating. But there are programs that can help
In a small auditorium at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, about a half-dozen cancer patients sit, getting tips on how to deal with hair loss during chemotherapy. It’s not an unusual workshop for cancer patients — except that…
Canada will add PFAS, which are linked to cancer and other health problems, to toxic substances list
The federal government is moving to add PFAS, a class of thousands of chemicals used in a wide range of products from food containers to clothing, to the official list of toxic substances, in light of growing scientific and public…
The world has moved on. But those who lost loved ones to COVID-19 feel stuck in time
It’s been almost five years, but family members of Canadians who died of COVID-19 in the first year of the pandemic often feel as if they are frozen in 2020. It pains them that they couldn’t hold the hands of…
Former Manitoba judge to lead investigation into Alberta’s health procurements
A former chief judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba will lead an investigation into the procurement practices of Alberta Health and the province’s health authority. Christopher McPherson, deputy minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade, announced in a news release…
‘People will die,’ says Canadian charity in Kenya as Trump’s USAID cuts threaten HIV medications
In Nanyuki, a market town just northwest of Mount Kenya, some foreign aid workers and volunteers are worried what U.S. President Donald Trump’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development will mean for the people there. “It’s a concern. It’s a real…
Australian blood donor who saved millions of babies thanks to rare antibody dies at age 88
He was known as “the man with the golden arm.” James Harrison, who according to the Australian Red Cross was the world’s most prolific blood and plasma donor, has died at age 88. Harrison’s plasma contained the rare antibody Anti-D, also known…
Breast cancer is more likely to kill young Black women. A Sask. researcher wants to see that change
When Kwaku Ayisi lost a friend who hadn’t even reached 40 to breast cancer, it inspired him to look at the barriers Black women face in Saskatchewan’s breast-health system. Ayisi, a researcher at the University of Regina, saw that Black women had much…
Health care turmoil continues with Alberta Health Services staff transfers, terminations
Another high ranking Alberta Health Services official has been ousted and hundreds of staff are being transferred to the province’s new acute care agency, as the government continues its complete overhaul of the health system while embroiled in a contract…
Her daughter is accused of stabbing a 6-year-old. She says she warned officials
Andrea Hancock says she understands that people are angry with her daughter — she’s angry too — but she says the 19-year-old is also severely unwell, and she warned police, social workers, doctors, shelter workers, therapists — even the neighbours…
Palliative care doesn’t mean a patient is at death’s door. Here’s why
White Coat Black Art26:30What if palliative care was about living better? Palliative care has an image problem. Despite what people think, it’s not some kind of “Grim Reaper service,” say two of Canada’s leading experts in this field of medicine….
The legacy of Quebec’s controversial pandemic curfew
Five years after the first reported COVID-19 case in Quebec, the province’s curfew remains controversial — more than half the fines are unpaid, legal battles continue and health experts still debate whether the benefits outweighed the costs. Quebec was the only province…
How targeting teenage drug use before it starts seems to be paying off
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. A drug prevention program that…
U.S. health agencies joined WHO’s flu meeting despite Trump’s plan to pull out
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration took part in a World Health Organization meeting to discuss flu vaccine composition, an official at the UN agency said on Friday. President Donald Trump started…
For the 1st time in Canada, surgeons put teeth in patients’ eyes to restore sight
As It Happens7:03For the 1st time in Canada, surgeons are putting teeth in patients’ eyes to restore sight When Brent Chapman’s doctor first pitched him on the idea of having one of his own teeth surgically embedded in his eye…
Measles cases nearly double in Ontario over last 2 weeks, far surpassing last decade’s total
Ontario is reporting 84 new measles cases over the last two weeks, nearly doubling the province’s total count since an outbreak started in the autumn. The new cases bring Ontario’s total this year to 119 that were confirmed in a…
Ousted Alberta Health Services boss warned of private surgery prices, documents show
The former head of Alberta Health Services, Athana Mentzelopoulos, tried to caution the government about the potential impact of chartered surgical facilities on the provincial health-care system months before she was fired, CBC has learned. Mentzelopoulos earlier this month filed…
Unvaccinated child dies in Texas measles outbreak
A child who was not vaccinated has died from measles in west Texas, the first death in an outbreak that began late last month and the first from measles in the U.S. since 2015. The death was a “school-aged child…
Former NTI president appointed to lead external review of Nutrition North
The federal government has appointed former Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) president Aluki Kotierk to oversee an external review of the Nutrition North subsidy. Nutrition North is a subsidy program that aims to reduce the delivery costs of perishable items and some non-food…
LED face masks are everywhere. But do they actually work, or are they anti-aging snake oil?
We have smeared snail goo on our foreheads and taken swigs of marine collagen. We have rigorously massaged our jawlines with jade rollers, lathered ourselves in petroleum jelly and called it “slugging” (not to be confused with snail goo), and even injected our…
LaGrange orders rule change to lock in Andre Tremblay as AHS interim CEO
The administrator and interim CEO of Alberta Heath Services changed AHS’s official rules to declare that only the deputy health minister could be named CEO of the health agency — a change made while he was serving as deputy health minister….
Montreal’s Metro struggles to cope with growing homelessness crisis
As the evening cold set in, Lindy Trapper and three friends spread a blanket on a platform overlooking the tracks at Villa-Maria Metro, in Montreal’s west end. Soon after, two intervention workers told them to leave. They were escorted up…
He was critically hurt in a 2009 car crash. He’s still in hospital, 16 years later
Ken Rekowski has had to make a home of his room at the Renfrew Victoria Hospital for most of the last 16 years. The 53-year-old was first admitted in 2009 after a car crash left him with a serious brain…
Struggling to get a good night’s sleep? There’s an alternative to meds, experts say
The Current19:15How to beat insomnia with cognitive behavioural therapy For more than 30 years, Faye Dickieson battled the exhausting effects of insomnia. She turned to sleeping pills in an attempt to get a peaceful night’s rest, but found no relief…
Kids by Babyganics sunscreen recalled over solvent health risks
Health A news release from Health Canada says the solvent can be absorbed through the skin or by inhaling it, and it may cause harm to fetal development and the reproductive system when used frequently. Affected products have expiry dates…
Most people in Denmark and the Netherlands have a doctor. Here’s what Canada can learn
White Coat Black Art26:30Primary care for all: Lessons from Denmark Emily Ritchie wasn’t nervous about finding a doctor in Denmark. She knew that within days of moving from Vancouver to her family’s new home in Copenhagen last year, they would…
Canada’s flu test positivity at highest level since 2020 season: report
The flu may be at its worst in Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Public Health Agency of Canada’s Flu Watch report, released Friday, shows test positivity for influenza at 26.9 per cent and rising. “Nationally, indicators of influenza activity…
11 dead as India struggles with creeping paralysis outbreak linked to contaminated water
It was in early January that Awanti Naik’s symptoms first crept up on her, starting with double vision and quickly followed by a debilitating headache and a strange feeling in her face. “There was heaviness in my jaw and eyes,…
Vaccination efforts increased in parts of Ontario as measles outbreaks grow
Ontario’s Ministry of Health is asking some health units in the province to accelerate and expand administering measles vaccines as outbreaks continue to grow. The areas in question are in the southwest where 92 cases of measles have been confirmed since…
Health Canada is again warning people to stop using unauthorized sexual enhancement products
Health Canada is warning people that unauthorized sexual enhancement products sold in at least three provinces may pose serious health risks. In a public advisory published on Wednesday, the agency told people to stop using the 372 different products they’d identified — with…
B.C. ends take-home safer supply for drug users to stop diversion
People who rely on prescription opioids such as hydromorphone must now take those safe supply drugs under the supervision of a pharmacist, in a major about-face by the provincial government announced Wednesday by B.C.’s health minister. “People who rely on prescription…
In rural Ontario where health-care is hurting, voters decry PC candidates missing debates
Tonight health care will once again be top-of-mind for residents of Walkerton, Ont. With eight days to go before a provincial election and only four weeks after hundreds of people lined up in the cold for a chance to secure…
B.C. physicians’ group calls on province to create space in hospitals for overdose prevention
An independent group of physicians on Vancouver Island is renewing calls for B.C.s Ministry of Health to make good on a promise to create space for overdose prevention at acute care facilities. An unsanctioned overdose prevention site has been set…
More than just a pinch: IUDs can cause excruciating pain, but in N.L., there’s no standard to deal with it
Shannon Driscoll struggled with painful and heavy periods her whole life. Like a lot of people, she tried birth control pills to mitigate the pain and regulate her cycle. But nothing worked — until she got an intrauterine device, known as…
B.C. health authorities confirm new measles case in the Lower Mainland
Health authorities in British Columbia say a new case of the measles has been confirmed in the Lower Mainland, in a resident who travelled to Southeast Asia. A joint statement from Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health says the infection…
Farmers dealing with chronic stress now have 24-hour national crisis line
WARNING: This article contains mention of suicide and suicidal ideation. You can find a variety of things on a New Brunswick farm: potatoes, cows and a tractor, for instance — and more stress than you might think. A recently launched crisis line aimed at Canadian farmers…
Remote Manitoba First Nation with no ambulance service gets new emergency medical response vehicle
A remote First Nation in eastern Manitoba has a new emergency response vehicle to move people in need of medical treatment. People in Poplar River First Nation have previously been transported in the beds of pickup trucks or the backs…
HPV infections pose serious risks for both men and women, experts say
The Dose21:45What do I need to know about HPV and the HPV vaccine? Gilles Charette first noticed something was going on with his body when he found an anal wart during a shower. Charette confirmed with a nurse practitioner that…
Alberta cabinet member urges Danielle Smith to remove health minister
A UCP cabinet minister is urging the premier to remove Health Minister Adriana LaGrange from her post while investigations continue into serious allegations a fired Alberta Health Services CEO has made about major health contracts, CBC News has learned. Infrastructure…
Iodine in table salt: How a public health victory is becoming a victim of its own success
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. Whether it’s kosher, Himalayan pink…
Changes to Inuit child funding program putting families at risk: health-care workers
Health-care workers in Nunavut say changes to a federal funding program for Inuit children are forcing some pregnant women to make a tough choice: have a safe birth or ensure the kids they already have are properly cared for. The…
White House actions have ‘serious impact on global health:’ WHO
The United States’ pause on foreign aid contributions is having a serious impact on global health, hitting programs fighting polio, HIV and other threats, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday. Tedros urged the U.S. to consider resuming aid funding until solutions can be found….
Home-care nurses told her not to worry about her bedsore. She was hospitalized the next day
Two years ago, on a late November morning, Sylvie Hudon woke up shaking like a leaf. The 66-year-old, who is paralyzed from the waist down, was trembling from what she says were the early signs of sepsis. She hadn’t seen it coming….
Canadian residents are racing to save the data in Trump’s crosshairs
The call to Angela Rasmussen came out of the blue and posed a troubling question. Had she heard the rumour that key data sets would be removed from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website the next day? It’s…
Former AHS CEO’s lawsuit alleges pressure to sign private surgery deals she believed were overpriced
The former CEO of Alberta Health Services has filed a $1.7-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit against AHS and the province. Athana Mentzelopoulos claims she was fired because she’d launched an investigation and forensic audit into various contracts and was reassessing deals…
Violent incidents prompt Halifax Infirmary to get walk-thru metal detector
The Halifax Infirmary will be getting a walk-thru metal detector installed this week after recent violent incidents at the hospital raised questions about its security measures. Last month, three health-care workers were attacked in the emergency department; two of them were stabbed….
‘A lot of people struggle in silence’: N.S. musician opens up about life in music industry
An acclaimed musician who lives in Halifax is opening up about her struggles in hopes of painting an honest picture of what it’s like to work in the music industry, From the outside, Meaghan Smith has had an enviable career….
30 years under longest boil-water advisory in Canada, Neskantaga First Nation pushes for new treatment plant
Neskantaga First Nation in northwestern Ontario has been under a boil-water advisory for over 30 years — the longest in effect in Canada — and now leaders of the remote Ojibway community are ramping up efforts to get the federal government to pay for…
Nevada dairy worker recovers after infection with new strain of bird flu: CDC
A dairy worker in Nevada who was infected with a new type of bird flu that’s different from the version that has been spreading in U.S. herds since last year has recovered, federal health officials said Monday. The illness was…
Horizon, 2 nurses deny negligence in death of Fredericton ER waiting room patient
A lawyer representing Horizon Health Network and two of its nurses says a lawsuit filed against them by the family of a man who died waiting for care at the Fredericton hospital’s emergency department in 2022 should be dismissed with…
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A huge part of Northern Ontario has no one to deliver babies
A huge swath of northern Ontario between Timmins and Thunder Bay has almost no one trained in obstetrics, forcing women to relocate for the final weeks of pregnancy. CBC’s Nick Purdon went there to find out what it’s like to…