August 2, 2007 (Insidermedicine)
From Toronto,
The Ontario Government has said yes to Gardasil. The province will plan to offer the vaccine which targets HPV- and prevents against cervical cancerto grade 8 girls. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, applauded the move, given that 400 women
will likely die from cervical cancer this year in Canada.
From New York,
A man in a 6-year near vegetative state can once again talk. Researchers, using electrodes to stimulate the thalamus deep within the brain, have dramatically improved the man's quality of life. Before the treatment he couldnt swallow, talk and rarely opened his eyes, he can now speak, recognize others and brush his hair.
From Maryland,
122 women became pregnant last year while on Accutane- the potent drug for severe acne. This is despite committing to the iPLEDGE program that counsels woman not to become pregnant while on or 30 days after taking the drug. Accutane can cause miscarriages, heart defects and cognitive deficit in babies born to mothers on the drug.
And finally from Ottawa,
The Canadian Medical Association concerned about long wait times, believes that patients should be able to access private care for services that are now covered by the public system. This could result in a system in which Canadian doctors see both private and public patients.
For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.
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