The Ontario Medical Association is calling for a provincewide specialist referral system, expanded team-based care, and an end to fax-based processes. A recent survey found one-third of patients with chronic conditions wait six months or longer for specialists. Doctors say delays frustrate patients and push some toward emergency departments.
Eighty-five health and environmental organizations are urging the WHO to revise its decades-old nitrate limits for drinking water. They argue current standards overlook newer evidence linking prolonged exposure to colorectal cancer and adverse birth outcomes. Nitrate contamination, often associated with intensive agriculture, poses particular concerns for children and pregnant women.
Research suggests smiling may influence mood, reduce stress responses, and support emotional well-being. Experts say facial expressions can affect brain chemicals associated with positive feelings, while smiling during stressful situations may help lower heart rates during recovery. However, cultural differences influence how smiles are interpreted, and smiling is not a standalone treatment for mental health conditions.
Health Canada says evidence does not indicate that a recent donor’s death, which occurred one day after plasma donation, was caused by the procedure. Canadian Blood Services reportedly followed approved safety protocols. The case differs from previous incidents involving a private Winnipeg plasma clinic where two donors died.
Canada plans to amend its medical assistance in dying (MAID) legislation to indefinitely exclude individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. The proposed changes also include allowing advance directives in certain circumstances. The decision follows parliamentary reviews and concerns about determining when mental illnesses are irremediable.
Canada has officially declared its two-year measles outbreak over after more than 6,400 infections across 10 provinces. Two infants infected before birth died after delivery. Although transmission has ended, public health officials warn that measles remains a global threat. Declining vaccination rates and immunization disruptions contributed to the outbreak’s resurgence.
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