News

Quebec committee says Alzheimer's patients should get access to doctor assisted death
The current law, adopted in 2014, set out strict criteria that include informed consent of a patient until their death, meaning people who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and could no longer provide informed consent do not have access.
Change the terms and conditions: CMA meets social media giants pushing for healthcare workers' online safety
Terms and conditions for social media use should make it clear that threats and intimidation are not acceptable and will have consequences, said Dr. Katharine Smart, president of the Canadian Medical Association.

Vaccine makers racing to update COVID shots, just in case

It's too soon to know how vaccines will hold up against omicron.
How will the world decide when the pandemic is over?

There's no clear-cut definition for when a pandemic starts and ends, and how much of a threat a global outbreak is posing can vary by country.
Some N.B. patients learning their unvaccinated doctors have been suspended

Duncan Milne is diabetic and has borderline kidney function but says he only found out his doctor was suspended when the hospital in Fredericton called to say his scheduled blood tests had been cancelled.
UBC study finds pharmacists dispensing the abortion pill to be safe, effective

A large study led by UBC researchers and published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that offering mifepristone (aka the abortion pill) without prescribing restrictions is working in Canada.
Nova Scotia announces $57 million over two years for long term and continuing care

The spending will help the government meet its previous commitment to hire 1,400 additional CCAs over the next three years, officials said.
'Does this save lives?' Concerns raised about Alberta overdose response app

The app alerts emergency responders if a person using substances becomes unresponsive to a pre-set timer. It's similar to British Columbia's Lifeguard app.
Profound results: Pharmacist, doc team up on virtual medication reviews to help seniors in rural B.C.

A doctor and pharmacist in rural B.C. have had great success in their cooperative medication reviews and are looking to expand the benefits further.
Some Manitoba patients may be shipped elsewhere to help clear surgery backlog

Doctors Manitoba, which represents 4,000 physicians across the province, says the backlog of surgeries and diagnostic tests has grown to more than 52,000 cases.