What's in the news: September 30 -- Tony Clement, MD politicians, Sarah Palin sympathy, and more

A round-up of Canadian health news, from coast to coast to coast and beyond, for Tuesday, September 30.

Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre hospital, where a homeless man died of a bladder infection last week after waiting in the emergency room for 34 hours, has implemented changes to prevent another, similar tragedy. [Canadian Press] Although it's not entirely clear yet why the man was not given the care he needed, the hospital plans to add staff and has come up with a colored wristband plan to keep track of patients who have yet to be triaged. [CBC News]

A short Globe and Mail profile paints a picture of Tony Clement's reelection campaign -- he won a seat in Parliament in 2006 by just 28 votes -- as being nearly a lock this time around. [Globe and Mail]

The Canadian Medical Association counts 12 physicians running in this year's federal election: seven for the Liberals, three for the Greens, and one each for the Tories and NDP. [CMA News] Profiles and links to the websites of each are available on the CMA's election page. [CMA] At first glance, the four incumbents -- all Liberals -- seem safe in their ridings; the rest of the physicians all face difficult races.

Newfoundland nurses are refusing to do cleaning, stocking and clerical work to pressure the government in negotiations. [Canadian Press]

New accusations arise about the sudden resignation earlier this year of Alberta's top public health staff. Alberta NDP leader Brian Mason says the doctors' departure was due to a disagreement with the government over how to alert the public to a syphilis problem. [Canadian Press] Health Minister Ron Liepert already took some flak for his work on the syphilis awareness campaign in August, which we wrote about here.

Meanwhile, just yesterday, Mr Liepert announced changes to the chief public health officer's role. He also clarified the relationship between the Ministry of Health and the new Alberta Health Services board. [CTV News]

Several Ontario physicians are planning on opening a medical-tourism surgical clinic to cater to Americans and other foreigners. [Globe and Mail]

Ontario's auditor-general blames poor hand hygiene and infection-control practices for the recent outbreak of C difficile in the province's hospitals. [Globe and Mail] I can't help but wonder: Didn't we already know that?

Edmonton obesity specialist Dr Arya Sharma is anti-marathon. [Dr Sharma's Obesity Notes]

Dr Martina Scholtens, having watched Sarah Palin squirm as foreign leaders ogled her, writes about how she deals with inappropriate sexual comments from patients. [Mothers in Medicine]

Two York University researchers are editors of a new book published by Canadian Scholars' Press Inc, called Women's Health: Intersections of Policy, Research, and Practice. [CSPI]

Grand Rounds is available at Monash Med Student. Be warned: the author is a former tank commander, and the post is filled with rather explicit photos of war. [Monash Med Student]

Beware of the "sumo virus," or "scrumpox." [BBC News]

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