Downward trend in drug overdoses in Ottawa, but reasons unclear
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
6 minutes ago
- CTV News
‘I call this Star Trek': New $10M machine innovating cancer treatments in Ottawa
The Ottawa Hospital has a new advanced tool to help cancer patients that combines imaging with treatment. Launched in June, an MR-Linac machine allows the hospital's oncology team to target cancer with accuracy, even as the tumour moves inside the patient's body during their treatment session. 'One of the most important parts of radiation therapy for us is actually aiming at the right spot. Historically, we had a lot of trouble doing that because different parts of the body can change shape,' says Dr. Marc Gaudet, head of radiation oncology at the Ottawa Hospital. MR-Linac essentially combines two machines common in hospitals – one that's used to take images inside the body, coupled with one that delivers precise radiation treatments. 'What this machine actually does is it combines MRI imaging with live treatment. So, we can actually get a live MRI during treatment and actually be able to track things moving during radiation treatment with some of the most sophisticated imaging that we can get. It makes the treatment much more precise, makes it much more concentrated, and actually avoids side effects for patients.' MR Linac medical team Radiation therapist William Lee (left) and Dr. Marc Gaudet look at a scan of a demo patient using the MR-Linac machine at the Ottawa Hospital. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa) Gaudet says it can also provide treatment where options didn't exist before. 'Certain types of tumors that actually move so much that we couldn't treat before, machines like this can actually allow new treatment that we would have been unable to do otherwise.' He says technology has come a long way in the past 20 years, from looking at 2D film to now live MRI video imaging. 'I call this Star Trek,' he says. The $10-million machine is one of only a handful found in Canada. 'For the first time, we're able to combine precise imaging and precise delivery of radiation in one system,' says Dr. Miller MacPherson, head of physics at the Ottawa Hospital. 'For patients, it means a couple of things. One, there are new capabilities on the horizon. So, patients who were not able to receive treatment might be eligible for treatment on this machine. Two, we envision less-toxic treatments because we can better aim the radiation. And three, we know that tumors change shape during the course of their therapy. Now, we can see the shape and position of the tumour really well every day before the beam turns on. So, we can use that information to adapt the radiotherapy plan.' Since June, about a dozen prostate cancer patients have received treatment using the MR-Linac. The hope, according to MacPherson, is to expand treatment to other cancers and around 250 patients per year. 'The doctors I've been speaking to envision more upper abdomen kind of treatments—pancreas, liver, those kinds of things—where the ability to track the motion of the tumour… becomes very important, along with the ability to visualize the tumour against all the other things that are very sensitive in that area.'
CBC
7 minutes ago
- CBC
London psychologist loses licence for sexual and professional misconduct
A disciplinary committee has revoked a London psychologist's licence after she admitted to having a sexual relationship with a client, offering services not likely to benefit clients, and misrepresenting her credentials. Tatiana Zdyb admitted to all of the professional misconduct allegations brought in front of Ontario's College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts panel on Wednesday. "The fact that you've engaged in professional misconduct and incompetence is a matter of profound concern to your fellow professional members and the public members of this panel," hearing chair Ian Nicholson said on behalf of the committee. "These findings are not minor breaches, but go to the core of your responsibilities as a regulated professional. The public places trust in psychologists to uphold the highest standards of care and integrity," Nicholson said. "Your actions represented a fundamental and egregious betrayal of that trust." Three separate disciplinary hearing notices were addressed during Wednesday's hearing, including an allegation of sexually abusing a patient. "The most serious of allegations is sexual relations with a client," said Grant Ferguson, who represented Zdyb. In September 2022, Zdyb began an intimate relationship with a client she had been providing services to since 2017. While the client stopped treatment the same month the relationship started, regulations set out by the college say that a psychologist is not permitted to engage in any sexual relations with a client up to a year after treatment ends. The mandatory penalty for this behaviour, which is defined as sexual abuse by the college, is to reprimand Zdyb and revoke her certificate of registration. "This penalty is appropriate and meets the needs of public interest," said Danielle Miller, who represented the college. "It will clearly serve as a specific deterrent [for Zdyb], as she will no longer be practicing as a clinical psychologist, and will act as a general deterrent, as other members of the profession will be able to see the conduct resulted in the most severe of penalties, and may prevent them from acting in the same manner," Miller said at the hearing. The revocation order has no end date, according to the college, but Zdyb could apply for reinstatement in five years. Lack of informed consent around ketamine, psilocybin use Miller emphasized that even if the sexual abuse penalty was not mandatory, the college would have recommended the same consequences on the basis of the other offences. Demand for therapy involving magic mushrooms growing in Canada 1 year ago Across the country, demand for therapy involving magic mushrooms is growing. Producing and possessing psilocybin — the mushrooms' psychoactive compound is illegal — but some companies can get around this with special licences. CBC's Joel Ballard was given rare access to a psilocybin facility, where he learned more about the demand, the potential benefits, and the red tape involved. Zdyb had provided a client, whose identity is covered by a publication ban and known as "Client A," with ketamine while she was seeking treatment for depression. Zdyb's clinic was one of the first in southwestern Ontario to use the psychedelic drug as treatment. When Client A's condition did not improve, Zdyb prescribed higher doses of ketamine and suggested she use psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms. The college found that Zdyb did not provide Client A with enough information about the psychedelic drugs to adequately consent to trying the treatment. Zdyb was also practicing outside of her area of expertise, and lacked the competence to determine whether this was an effective treatment for Client A, the college added. "It was a complicated case, it was one she was not well-equipped to handle, but she now understands the quality of care this patient deserved," Ferguson said. In addition, Client A and Zdyb entered into an "intimate" personal friendship, which involved gifts, free sessions and dinner together, making it difficult for the client to end treatment. "[Zdyb] expressed affection for Client A, telling her she 'loved everything about her' and making it clear that she considered them to have a close friendship," Miller said. "When Client A wished to terminate treatment, she held off doing so as she didn't want to hurt Ms. Zydb." In the last disciplinary hearing, Zdyb admitted to failing an undertaking by the college to stop providing psychedelic enhanced psychotherapy in Ontario and stop misrepresenting her credentials as a doctor. The panel reprimanded Zdyb immediately after the hearing ended and the revocation of her certificate will happen within 30 days. "[Zdyb] appreciates the necessity of this hearing and the importance of her attending it, as unpleasant as it may be," Ferguson said on her behalf.
CBC
7 minutes ago
- CBC
7 new confirmed measles cases reported in Manitoba last week
Social Sharing Manitoba has reported seven more measles cases, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the province to 165 so far this year. According to the province's most recent data, which was posted Wednesday and goes until July 26, there was also a new probable measles case detected last week, for a total of 10 probable cases this year in addition to confirmed cases. The number of confirmed cases in Manitoba spiked in May, with 72 reported that month. Confirmed infections dipped in June with 28 cases in June. The province has recorded 46 confirmed cases and two probable cases so far in July. Canada achieved measles elimination status in 1998, but imported cases have resulted in outbreaks of the highly contagious disease that started in New Brunswick in October. From Dec. 29 to July 19, there had been 3,878 reported measles cases in the country, data from Health Canada said. The majority of confirmed cases, 1,979 as of July 19, have been reported in Ontario, where the highly contagious virus also claimed the life of a baby who died after being born prematurely and infected through the mother early in June. Alberta is trailing behind with 1,425 confirmed cases as of July 19, exceeding the number of total cases the entire United States has reported so far this year. Measles is highly infectious and spreads through droplets in the air, formed when coughing or sneezing. Even a few minutes in the same space as a sick person poses infection risks, as the virus can linger on surfaces for two hours after an infected person leaves. An infected person can spread the virus from four days before the rash appears until four days after that. Symptoms of measles generally appear seven to 21 days after exposure, and may include a fever, runny nose, drowsiness and red eyes. Small white spots can also appear on the inside of the mouth or throat, the province said. Immunization is the only way to protect people from contracting measles, Manitoba Health says. A two-dose measles vaccine program for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) is routinely provided for kids at least one year old and again at age four to six in Manitoba. If a child is exposed to measles, the province said a second dose can be given earlier.
