Activists canvass health minister's constituency with calls to ‘step down'
Public Interest Alberta headed to Red Deer to door knock and call for the resignation of Health Minister Adriana LaGrange on May 15, 2025. (Evan Klippenstein/CTV News Edmonton)
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CBC
11 minutes ago
- CBC
B.C. mom picks up her son's ADHD medication, is given an opioid instead
A mother on Vancouver Island is warning people to double check their prescriptions after she was accidentally dispensed the powerful opioid hydromorphone instead of her son's regular ADHD medication. Comox, B.C., resident Sarah Paquin, 31, says she still shudders to think about what could have happened to her nine-year-old son had her husband not noticed the medication looked different before he gave it to him. "It was terrifying," Paquin said, standing in her front yard and playing with one of her three young boys. "One simple little mistake like that could have ended horribly." WATCH | 9-year-old dispensed opioid in pharmacy mix-up: Pharmacy mix-up leaves child with hydromorphone pills 15 hours ago Duration 1:58 A mother on Vancouver Island is warning people to check their prescriptions very carefully after a close call for their son. As Maryse Zeidler reports, she and her husband found that their pharmacy accidentally dispensed the wrong medication. Paquin says she didn't think too much of it when she went to pick up her son Declan's medication last week and the staff member at her local Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy didn't check her ID or take out the prescription from the bag. The next day, her husband was about to give Declan his medication when he saw the pills were a different colour and shape than normal. Her husband looked at the bottle and noticed the prescription was for someone else, and that it was for five milligrams of hydromorphone. Right away he returned the pills to the pharmacy. "Immediately your mind goes to the worst case scenario," Paquin said. "The results could have been catastrophic and it just makes my heart sink to think about what could have happened." Hydromorphone is a powerful opioid that is two to eight times stronger than morphine and is often used to treat acute pain or chronic cancer pain. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can cause serious unwanted effects or fatal overdose in children. Human error CBC News reached out to Loblaws, the company that owns Shoppers Drug Mart. In a written statement, the company said the incident was a case of "human error" that never should have happened. "We have controls in place to minimize risks like this — where the patient was handed the wrong prescription bag — and the associate will review these with employees to avoid a similar situation in the future," the company said. Paquin says she has since heard from the pharmacist, who was very apologetic. She says he acknowledged that steps were missed and standards were dropped, and told her the employee who dispensed the medication has been suspended pending an internal investigation. Asking for accountability Despite his reassurances, Paquin has filed a complaint with the College of Pharmacists of B.C. "The pharmacy needs to take responsibility, be held accountable for what happened," she said. In an email, the college told CBC News it takes these types of errors very seriously. "We have legal requirements in the Health Professions Act bylaws in place to prevent these occurrences, including mandatory standards for prescription preparation to ensure accuracy of the prescription product and consultations for all prescriptions, to make sure clients understand their medication, how to take it properly, and address any questions," the college said. As part of pharmacists' consultation with clients, they are required to confirm the person's identity, name and the strength and purpose of the drug, it added. In 2023-24, the college says it received a total of 990 concerns through its intake process. Of those, 54 became formal complaints and investigations, 16 of which were medication related. Paquin decided to share her ordeal on social media, to warn others to check their prescription before taking it. "It's scary that it happened to us, but I'm also in a way kind of thankful that it happened to us and we caught it because it could have been given to somebody who didn't notice and got hurt," she said.
CBC
16 minutes ago
- CBC
Man found guilty in 2021 stabbing death of Halifax optician
In some of Tony Nader's final words before he collapsed and died following a horrific stabbing inside the Halifax optometry store where he worked, he asked someone he knew at the scene to tell his family, friends and co-workers that he loved them. On Thursday, more than two dozen of them were in Nova Scotia Supreme Court to hear a judge find the 28-year-old man accused of the 2021 killing guilty of first-degree murder, rejecting his defence that he was not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. Cymon Felix Cormier looked at the floor, but showed little reaction as Justice Christa Brothers told him the decision, which means he faces an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years. "I find that Mr. Cormier was in full control of his faculties when he repeatedly stabbed Mr. Nader," the judge said in a written decision. "Mr. Cormier was a deliberate, wilful and conscious actor, who planned an attack to kill Mr. Nader or cause bodily harm he knew would likely kill him." On Dec. 30, 2021, Cormier pushed his way into Insight Optometry, which at the time was screening customers as part of COVID-19 protocols, and pursued Nader around the store, stabbing him. Cormier ran from the scene, but was arrested nearby. During the trial, which began last fall and lasted more than 15 days, the court heard that Cormier had come to believe Nader had sexually abused him as a child, when Nader and his mother had been in a relationship. There was no evidence brought to court, however, that suggested the allegations were true. Cormier's brother testified Nader was like a father figure for the brothers during the time he lived with the family. Cormier had long struggled with his mental health. A forensic psychiatrist who testified for the defence told the court Cormier had developed "systemized delusions" that Nader was a pedophile who was part of a sex cult, and that people were covering it up. Cormier had told the psychiatrist that God commands him to do things, that he is on a special mission to bring justice to society, that he gets messages through the radio and that doctors have tried to kill or punish him. But Brothers concluded Cormier was in fact malingering. He was not suffering from schizophrenia, she said, but instead from a major depressive disorder, and that it did not make him incapable of knowing that his attack on Nader was wrong. 'Tony Nader was a much-loved individual' Nader, 55, was a husband and father of two children, and was known both as an optician who was dedicated to his patients as well as a talented musician. Prosecutor Scott Morrison said outside the courtroom the judge thoroughly examined the evidence and correctly applied the law, and he believes she came to the right decision. He said Nader's family is generally happy with the result. "It's obvious that this has had a profound impact on their life and that Tony Nader was a much-loved individual," he said. "But I think for some people it might bring them a measure of closure." In her ruling, Brothers pointed to internet searches Cormier made before the stabbing, how he appeared "goal-oriented" in planning and attacking Nader, and that no witnesses, including police officers, described him behaving in a psychotic way. The internet searches in the months leading up to the stabbing included "I think I was sexually abuse but can't remember," "feelings of revenge," and "insanity defence." Brothers said the evidence of the defence expert, Dr. Julian Gojer, who concluded Cormier was likely not criminally responsible, "falls significantly short" of what is required. She said the psychiatrist's "unvarnished acceptance" of Cormier's statements was "problematic." Sentencing in late July She noted that after Gojer was shown the internet searches during cross-examination in court, he said he was now "on the fence" about whether Cormier was criminally responsible. In the opinion of Dr. Joel Watts, an expert for the prosecution, Cormier had embellished his psychotic symptoms and his claims of amnesia in relation to the attack, according to the judge, who called his testimony "clear, compelling and rooted in evidence." The judge also found Cormier guilty of assault causing bodily harm for hitting an Insight customer with the butt of the knife during the attack. Cormier will be formally sentenced for murder and assault at a court hearing at the end of July where family members will be given the opportunity to read victim impact statements.
Globe and Mail
18 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Manfred Stapff's Breakthrough Book Hits #1 on Amazon, Tackles Misinformation with Real-World Evidence
Summary: Dr. Manfred Stapff's newly released book, Real-World Evidence Unveiled: Navigating the Maze of Modern Misinformation, has soared to #1 on Amazon in multiple categories. New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - June 5, 2025) - Candid-Advisory founder and renowned physician-scientist Dr. Manfred Stapff has made a notable impact in the publishing world with the release of his new book, Real-World Evidence Unveiled: Navigating the Maze of Modern Misinformation. Since its debut on April 23, 2025, the book has become an Amazon bestseller, currently ranked #1 in multiple categories, including Anthropology, Civil Rights and Liberties, Social Theory, Sociology Research and Measurement, Communication Reference, and Social Sciences Research. Image Credit: Real-World Evidence Unveiled by Dr. Manfred Stapff To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Dr. Stapff's much-needed book has arrived at a time when society is flooded with misleading headlines, viral misinformation, and biased reporting. Through Real-World Evidence Unveiled, he introduces readers to the concept of Real-World Evidence (RWE). This is a powerful approach based on real-life data rather than experimental trials or curated information. Though the term is rooted in healthcare, Stapff broadens its scope to help readers evaluate news, social media narratives, and policy debates through an evidence-based lens. With this book, Stapff refines and filters years of work in regulatory science, quality management, and global medical operations by turning it into an accessible guide for students, professionals, and informed citizens alike. He uses compelling case studies and practical strategies, using the book to show readers the way to distinguish reliable data from noise, break down media narratives, and apply critical thinking in everyday life. Real-World Evidence Unveiled is already earning praise across academic, corporate, and consumer audiences as it continues to climb bestseller charts. The book has become a must-read for anyone interested in truth, transparency, and data-driven thinking. Misinformation prevails in public health, democracy, and social cohesion; Real-World Evidence Unveiled is a warning and a solution. It reminds readers that rigorous thinking and sound data are not just tools for scientists but the foundation of a functional society. About the Author Dr. Manfred Stapff, MD, PhD, is the founder of Candid-Advisory and a leader in clinical research, regulatory science, and real-world data analytics. His career spans over three decades, including senior roles in top pharmaceutical firms across Germany and the United States. He helps individuals and organizations make informed, evidence-based decisions. About Candid-Advisory Candid-Advisory is a life sciences consultancy that offers expert solutions in clinical trials, regulatory affairs, quality management, and real-world data utilization. Headquartered in New York and Boston, the firm partners with healthcare innovators to deliver strategic, unbiased counsel across therapeutic areas and business functions.
