Hot Spot
British Columbia
Ottawa loses Insite decision
VANCOUVER — In a decision May 27 on the future of Insite, the Vancouver safe-injection site, BC Supreme Court Justice Ian Pitfield not only declared that the federal government had no authority to shut down the facility but also ruled important sections of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to be unconstitutional. Justice Pitfield gave Ottawa until June 30, 2009 to rewrite the law, but Health Minister Tony Clement says the government will appeal the ruling. Meanwhile, plans for more safe-injection sites have already sprouted up in Quebec.
Alberta
HPV vaccine program needed: MDs
EDMONTON — After British Columbia finalized details on its government-funded human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine program for school-age girls early last month, Alberta became the only province still holding out against paying for HPV immunization. "We are really struggling with the fact the government hasn't made an announcement on this," Dr Michael Bow, the president of the Alberta Medical Association's section on obstetrics and gynecology, told The Canadian Press. Health Minister Ron Liepert responded that the government may announce a program by the fall.
Saskatchewan
SK is worst on mental health funding
REGINA — A new study that revealed Saskatchewan spends the least of all the provinces on mental health has called the province's mental health record into question. The study, published last month in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, sparked criticism of the years of funding shortfalls, with harsh words from Canadian Mental Health Commissioner Michael Kirby and the Regina Leader-Post's editorial board. Health Minister Don McMorris said the government will reinstitute a psychiatric nurse training program this September.
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Manitoba
Pathology problems reach MB
WINNIPEG — Last month, Manitoba earned the dubious honour of becoming the fourth province to initiate an investigation into the flawed work of a pathologist. Dr Robert Stark, who headed the St Boniface Hospital pathology department in Winnipeg, was placed on leave after a review found errors in 10 of 35 of his cases. Hundreds of cases have been reviewed already, but no patients have been required to seek new treatment yet.
Life-support MD resigns in protest
WINNIPEG — Dr Anand Kumar, the critical care physician who attempted to remove brain-injured patient Samuel Golubchuk's respirator and feeding tube last fall, has resigned from Grace Hospital. Dr Kumar quit in protest of a court's injunction against letting Mr Golubchuk die, which his Orthodox Jewish family says violates their religious convictions.
Hot Spot
Ontario
C diff forces government into action
TORONTO — Ontario is finally catching up with other provinces that already require hospitals to publicly report C difficile, MRSA and other infections. Health Minister George Smitherman announced the initiative, which is set to begin September 30, in late May as the government came under attack for failing to respond to over 250 C difficile-related deaths in the past two years.
Pathologist resigns over errors
OWEN SOUND — Grey Bruce Health Services revealed last month that it asked pathologist Barry Sawka to stop practising in February when a review of his cases found a 6% error rate. Six hundred patients have already been contacted to warn them of possible mistakes, and up to 40,000 cases may be reviewed, hospital officials said.
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