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Accident victim finally thanks his rescuers

2010-08-27 18:46:00.000

In April, Brian Donato was crushed by a tree, leaving him paralyzed below the waist. On Friday, he finally met the paramedics who airlifted him to safety.

Investigation finds filthy spouts on public drinking fountains

2010-08-28 00:01:00.000

The Star collected and analyzed bacteria samples swabbed from spouts of 20 public water fountains and free-standing coolers across the city. Turns out Dalton McGuinty would be better off drinking from a dog bowl than the water cooler at Queen’s Park.

Advocates call for more help for autism

2010-08-30 20:02:00.000

Parents of children with autism still struggle with long waits and gaps in services, despite efforts to repair Ontario’s patchwork system.

SARS survivors struggle with symptoms years later

2010-09-02 10:42:00.000

Painful muscles and joints, shortness of breath and lack of energy are all unwanted gifts of a disease that keeps on giving, say researchers. In addition, many victims suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

North Bay hospital to offer co-ed hospital rooms

2010-08-31 17:22:00.000

The North Bay Regional Health Centre plans to offer 40 co-ed acute care rooms come January, sparking a gender debate.

Nurses put heat on Dalton McGuinty over pay freeze

2010-09-02 00:01:00.000

Unionized nurses get a 3 per cent raise denied to non-unionized nurses because of the public sector wage freeze.

Ottawa won’t fund MS trials, but others could

2010-09-02 01:39:00.000

The federal health minister has agreed to hold off on funding clinical trials for a controversial MS treatment, but that doesn't prevent provinces from having their own.

Marijuana effective for pain relief, study finds

2010-08-30 10:14:00.000

Smoking pot can make some of the pain go away, without the patient getting high.

E. coli warning for meat from Toronto store

2010-09-02 09:12:00.000

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning consumers about meat sold from a Toronto store in August that may be contaminated with E. coli.

‘Smart’ hospital beds take care of patients

2010-08-29 17:18:00.000

More than a resting place for patients, today’s generation of hospital beds can also save lives.

Mice, maggots and manure found at farms behind massive egg recall

2010-08-31 09:15:00.000

Federal investigators in the U.S. found dead maggots and live flies that crunched underfoot at one farm, where the FDA also documented a hen house bulging from manure.

New flu vaccines promise less pain

2010-08-30 00:01:00.000

This season's flu shot protects against H1N1 and will also be available for the first time without the painful jab.

Obama administration appeals stem cell injunction

2010-08-31 15:27:00.000

The Obama administration Tuesday appealed a ruling that blocked federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and asked the judge who issued the injunction to put it on hold pending the appeal.

Can youth be squeezed into a pill?

2010-08-28 00:01:00.000

Scientists search for a way to extend the human lifespan that can be squeezed into a pill

Experts advise against clinical trials for MS treatment

2010-09-01 09:29:00.000

An expert panel is advising Health Canada against funding clinical trials for a controversial new multiple sclerosis treatment. But the experts are suggesting a working group monitor studies on the so-called “liberation procedure.”

Ontario launches plan to curb narcotics abuse

2010-08-27 13:00:00.000

The Ontario government has launched a plan to curb the rampant abuse of prescription narcotics in the province.

The $50,000 smile: New procedure offers full set of new teeth in one day

2010-08-26 21:30:00.000

The all-in-four procedure pioneered in Richmond Hill is expensive at $50,000, but allows patients to retire the dentures.

Council supports harm-reduction strategy for drugs

2010-08-27 14:05:00.000

Toronto has become the first city in the world to endorse the Vienna Declaration, which advocates harm reduction over the law enforcement-driven war on drugs.

New cooling procedure could eliminate salmonella in eggs, prof says

2010-09-02 09:21:00.000

With the massive recall of eggs in the U.S., a new cooling procedure that uses carbon dioxide promises to prevent salmonella.

Angina medication could save patients with heart failure

2010-08-29 21:04:00.000

European researchers say an inexpensive drug in use to treat angina could save thousands of people who suffer from heart failure.

Sask. turns to private clinic to cut surgery wait times

2010-08-30 13:45:00.000

Saskatchewan has turned to private health care to help clear up a backlog of patients waiting for day surgeries.

Rival clot drugs both poised to replaced problematic Warfarin

2010-09-01 12:26:00.000

Both Bristol’s apixaban and Bayer’s Xarelto are racing to replace old, difficult-to-use anti-clotting drug, warfarin

YouDocs: Lower high blood pressure with dark chocolate

2010-08-31 10:54:00.000

Just a small piece of the sweet treat every day packs enough flavonoids to help your arteries, studies have found.

New York’s tap water is full of shrimp. And Toronto’s?

2010-09-01 13:36:00.000

Microscopic shrimp that infest New York City’s tap water have reared their little heads again after an amateur biologist gave them a luminous glow.

Health experts warn of 'stem cell tourism' dangers

2010-08-31 15:17:00.000

Experts say up to 700 clinics are offering unlicensed treatments where desperate patients are “risking their lives and life savings.”