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Private health insurance given the go-ahead in Canada

A Quebec law that banned some private health insurance, has been overruled by the Supreme Court of Canada and is a decision which is likely to pave the way to a greater use of private health care to supplement a crumbling public system.

10 Jun 2005

Ethical dilemmas need round the clock advice

Ethics support is needed everywhere healthcare is provided; therefore anyone providing healthcare should have round-the-clock access to appropriate sources of ethical advice, says a new report from the Royal College of Physicians.

9 Jun 2005

New medical marijuana ruling

In many of San Francisco's medical marijuana clubs business carried on as usual despite the Supreme Court ruling on June 6 that people who smoke pot for medicinal purposes can be prosecuted for violating federal drug laws.

8 Jun 2005

U.S. Supreme Court overules states and makes marijuana for medicinal use illegal

A U.S. Supreme Court has decreed that the Federal Government has the power to prevent sick patients from smoking home-grown marijuana that a doctor recommended to relieve chronic pain. The 6 to 3 ruling by a divided court is a major setback for the medical use of marijuana.

6 Jun 2005

Dutch team shows cost effectiveness of heroin prescriptions

Researchers at the University of Amsterdam say there are strong reasons to support the practice of prescribing heroin to drug misusers.

6 Jun 2005

Prescribing methadone plus heroin to chronic, treatment resistant addicts is less costly than methadone alone

Prescribing methadone plus heroin to chronic, treatment resistant addicts is less costly than methadone alone because it reduces criminal behaviour, finds a study in this week's BMJ.

3 Jun 2005

About one-fourth of infants who are violently shaken by an abuser will die from brain damage

Three-fourths of these infants will literally have the retinas of their eyes torn away from the back of the eye wall from the force of the motion.

2 Jun 2005

Australian MPs back call for smoking bans in cars

A campaign by doctors to ban adults from smoking in vehicles carrying children has strong support among Western Australian politicians, an AMA(WA) survey has revealed.

2 Jun 2005

UK latest country to join anti-smoking drive

Smoking causes more than 100,000 deaths in the UK each year and now the UK government is promising that it will become a driving force in helping smokers all over the world to quit.

2 Jun 2005

Research shows smoking bans unlikely to affect business in Canada

More people reported that they would likely visit bars and restaurants if they are smoke-free than the number who would stay away because of a smoking ban. These are the results of recent public opinion research announced today by Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh.

1 Jun 2005

Twenty countries plan to go smokefree

At least 20 countries around the world are working towards smokefree public places and it is time for the UK to provide a strong lead, Cancer Research UK's Chief Executive declares.

1 Jun 2005

Doctors in the U.S. gravitate to states that cap malpractice awards

According to two studies released this week many doctors are gravitating to states that place caps on malpractice awards, despite the fact that such awards are not the primary cause of skyrocketing insurance premiums.

1 Jun 2005

Asbestos Compensation Fund Legislation passed by Senate Judiciary Committee

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is to be applauded for taking action to protect the rights of true victims of asbestos-related illness and ensure they promptly receive their full compensation, the Center for Individual Freedom said late last week.

30 May 2005

Bill Clinton urges U.S. drug companies to be more flexible on generic drugs

Bill Clinton, the former U.S. president, is urging the United States to be more flexible in allowing money pledged for AIDS prevention to be used for low-cost generic drugs, and he has criticized U.S. drug manufacturers for pressuring the government to restrict use of those funds.

26 May 2005