What's in the news: Dec. 11 -- Inspectors will watch as Ontario docs work

A round-up of Canadian health news, from coast to coast to coast and beyond, for Thursday, December 11.

The Ontario government yesterday proposed new legislation to give health regulatory agencies, including the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), the authority to directly observe health professionals performing medical procedures during an inspection. The proposal, which would amend existing regulations, came about partly as a result of the death of a woman who underwent surgery performed by a family physician who was using the at-the-time unregulated title of "cosmetic surgeon." [Bill 141 introduction] [Ministry of Health and Long Term Care news release] The proposed law received support from both the Progressive Conservative and the NDP, though NDP health critic France Gélinas said, "I must note that the college submitted a number of regulations and bylaw amendments to the ministry in March 2008, and it has taken nine months for the government to come back with this small amendment." The CPSO approved of the bill immediately. "We are extremely pleased that we will be able to deliver on our commitment to enhance patient safety in out-of-hospital facilities where invasive procedures are performed," said the college's new president, Dr Rayudu Koka, in a release. Dr Koka said more changes will be needed, however. [CPSO news release] The CPSO has not been let off the hook, though, for what some people say was its slow response to the problem of doctors being permitted to perform cosmetic surgeries without accreditation and use the "cosmetic surgeon" title. [Globe and Mail]

British Columbia health authorities are owed around $20 million in medical bills, more than half of which is owed by tourists. "BC is not a destination that is in the habit of providing free health care for the rest of the world," Health Minister George Abbott was quoted as saying two years ago. Since then, five of the six health authorities saw the amounts owed to them grow. [Vancouver Sun] Some suggest that "maternity tourism" is to blame. That was the Montreal Gazette's take on things late last month. [Montreal Gazette] An editorial read, "... there is a systematic abuse of medicare here and the government, not MDs or hospitals, needs to find a solution, one that takes into account humanitarian needs but is also fair to doctors - and taxpayers." [Montreal Gazette]

Vitamin D deficiency in young women is both more prevalent and more harmful than had previously been thought, a new joint Canadian-American study found. Examining women aged 16 to 22, the study found that 59% didn't get enough vitamin D even though the research was conducted in sunny California. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with shorter height and greater weight, but not with lower bone mineral density. [The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (PDF)] "“Clinicians need to identify vitamin D levels in younger adults who are at risk by using a simple and useful blood test," said co-author Dr Vicente Gilsanz in a release. He suggested that further research may determine that vitamin D supplements are indicated in young women. [McGill University Health Centre news release] In related news, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the WHO, said there's a need for a clinical trial to look at the connection between vitamin D and cancer. [Globe and Mail]

There are significant medical problems associated with a baby being born between the 34th and 36th weeks of pregnancy, or during what is called the "late preterm" period, reported a new study in The Journal of Pediatrics. Such children -- who are being born more and more often these days because of the rising prevalence of IVF, early induced labour, and the trend towards delaying motherhood until later in life -- have a tripled rate of celebral palsy and are at a 25% increased risk of developmental delay. [The Journal of Pediatrics] In an accompanying commentary, McGill's Dr Michael Kramer wrote that the study "fills an important gap in our knowledge." [The Journal of Pediatrics] "Although the absolute risks are low for individual babies, they could become a public health problem because of the growing number of these births in the general population," he said in a release. [McGill University Health Centre news release] "At some point, with increasing technology and increasing intervention, we're going to be doing more harm than good," Dr Kramer told the Canadian Press. "I'm not saying we're there yet. But we need to keep an eye on this." [Canadian Press]

In response to a recent investigation of the variation in Taser guns' power output by the CBC, police forces across Canada are pulling similar models out of officers' hands. Taser International, however, said that the CBC's data was "scientifically flawed." [Globe and Mail]

A new study in Nature, by researchers from the University of British Columbia, the US and Germany, identified a genetic mutation that causes 46% of the cases of uveal melanoma, the commonest type of eye cancer. [Nature abstract] [UBC news release]

An Ontario home-care company is facing criticism after two of its employees claimed to have failed to notice very serious signs of abuse in an elderly man whom they bathed every day. [Globe and Mail]

The latest edition of the Health Wonk Review, a collection of the best recent health policy blogging, is online. [e-CareManagement blog]

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