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British Columbia
VANCOUVER —A
deadly platter Back
in 1793, explorer Captain George Vancouver (after whom
the city is named) lost two crewmen to a disease now
known as paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) after they
ate unsafe shellfish. This month, history repeated itself.
The medical health officer for the Central Island area
of Vancouver Island is warning people to buy shellfish
from authorized dealers only, after two people became
seriously ill last week with PSP. The victims bought
butter clams from a door-to-door salesman that were
contaminated with red tide, a micro- organism named
for the riotous scarlet Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) that
grows near the coast. LD
VANCOUVER
— Don't
pass that dutchie Health officials in Vancouver
are warning people about the danger of sharing marijuana
joints after two people died of meningococcal disease;
four of five recent cases of the disease were linked
to the practice of sharing joints. "We mean people who
shared pot with friends in their own social circles,"
said one Vancouver Coastal Health Authority spokesperson.
Another added that the bacteria can be passed through
saliva and called for people to either stop sharing
joints or get vaccinated. LD
Alberta
CALGARY —
Public is cheaper:
lobby group In light of Alberta Premier Ralph
Klein's recent comment that the Canada Health Act is
part of a "dusty old rule book" and not relevant today,
a public healthcare lobby group will hold their own
conference at the end of April ahead of one planned
by the Tories on May 3. The group, called the Friends
of Medicare, along with U of A's Parkland Institute,
fears the government's invitation-only symposium is
just a ruse to impose private medicine. The group says
it expects academic research will show that private
healthcare is more costly. GE
Contributors: Hector Andrews, Simon
Biggar, Donna Byers, Lance Davies, Geoff Everett, Thane
Jenkins, Julie J. Mercier, Deana Stokes Sullivan, and
Brent Woodford
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Saskatchewan
REGINA —Fuming
Nilson When Saskatchewan
Health Minister John Nilson worked to implement a ban
on smoking effective on January 1, he says he understood
the ban would apply throughout the province. However,
the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations contends
its casinos are under First Nations jurisdiction and
says bands will set their own laws. Three of the four
First Nations-run casinos have refused to comply with
the ban, and the only one to go smoke-free, the Painted
Hand Casino in Yorkton, last week opted to allow on-site
smoking again. Minister Nilson tried to put a positive
spin on the matter, saying there's been a good level
of compliance elsewhere. TJ
Manitoba
WINNIPEG —
Costly misdemeanour
A Manitoba doctor accused of having sexual relations
with a female patient has had his licence suspended
for six months and has been fined $7,900 in costs to
the province's College of Physicians and Surgeons. The
College decided not to reveal the doctor's name so as
to protect the plaintiff. The doctor, who is currently
in a committed personal relationship with the woman
who is no longer his patient, must undergo an assessment
once his suspension ends, to determine whether he is
fit to practise. HA
Ontario
TORONTO —
Lawsuits galore
Toronto nurse Andrea Williams, who contracted SARS in
May 2003, is suing the province for negligence to the
tune of $600 million. She alleges that Queen's Park
was more concerned with lost tourist revenues than public
health. A lawyer representing the government tried to
convince a judge recently that at the end of the day
it isn't liable for damages to individuals who contract
a disease. The government is also facing another SARS-related
lawsuit filed by 53 nurses for $8.5 million in general
damages and $10 million in punitive damages. JJM
TORONTO
— Happy
World Health Day Health Minister George Smitherman
marked the April 7 World Health Day with a rousing speech
on his government's healthcare plan. Minister Smitherman
defended the government's $32 billion budget and chastised
PC opposition leader John Tory for his proposal to cut
$2.5 billion. He spoke in detail of his three- pronged
approach to create healthier Ontarians, provide better
access to doctors and reduce wait times. JJM
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