Latest news with #youthhealth
CBC
09-08-2025
- Health
- CBC
City council makes swimming free for youth at Iqaluit Aquatic Centre
Council voted to waive pool fees for youth under the age of 18 at a meeting this week. It's all in an effort to promote physical and mental health for young people. One city councillor says it's important to help youth get involved in recreational activities.
Globe and Mail
09-08-2025
- Health
- Globe and Mail
Alberta government appeals temporary injunction of transgender health care law
Alberta is appealing a temporary injunction of a law banning doctors from providing gender-affirming care to youth. A judge granted the injunction in June, ruling the provincial law raises serious Charter issues that need to be hashed out in an ongoing court challenge of the legislation. Court of King's Bench Justice Allison Kuntz said the law is likely to cause irreparable harm to gender-diverse youth and she didn't find the contrary evidence submitted by the province to be overwhelming. The government, in an appeal filed to the Calgary court last month, argues the injunction was premature, since it wasn't fully in effect. It also claims the judge made a mistake and 'mixed fact and law' in deciding the legislation would cause irreparable harm. The Decibel: The legal fight over gender-affirming health care in Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery's press secretary, Heather Jenkins, said the law was passed to protect children from making potentially irreversible decisions about their bodies. 'Alberta's government will continue to vigorously defend our position in court,' she said in an email Friday. Egale Canada, one of the groups challenging the law along with five transgender youth, says it respects the province's right to appeal but believes the judge made the right decision. 'The Court of King's Bench, relying on extensive expert testimony and evidence, affirmed what we have long argued – that denying gender-affirming care causes irreparable harm,' Egale's legal director, Bennett Jensen, said in an email. 'The context of this case remains clear: the government is interfering in the relationship between doctors and patients by seeking to ban medically necessary, evidence-based care for an already marginalized group of youth.' The law bans doctors from providing treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy to those under 16. Opinion: The real health care wait-time scandal? Political meddling Kuntz wrote in her decision that denying treatment could cause youth emotional and psychological harm and expose them to permanent physical changes that don't match their gender identity. She also said the ban would reinforce the discrimination and prejudice they already experience. 'Intentionally or not, the ban will signal that there is something wrong with or suspect about having a gender identity that is different than the sex you were assigned at birth,' the judge wrote. The province had argued against the injunction, saying claims the law would harm youth were speculative because the ban hadn't been enforced yet. The government also said any psychological harm would be a result of puberty, though the judge largely rebuffed that argument. The Canadian Medical Association and three Alberta-based doctors are also challenging the law's constitutionality in a separate case. The doctors argue the law violates their Charter right to freedom of conscience. MHCare demands AHS investigation results The law came from a trio of bills affecting transgender people that Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party government passed last year. The other pieces of legislation ban transgender women from competing in women's sports and require children under 16 have parental consent to change their names or pronouns at school. Parents are also required to opt in their children for school lessons on sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity. Alberta's law followed Saskatchewan, which passed its own law in 2023 that requires parental consent for students under 16 who want to change their names or pronouns. That government invoked the Charter's notwithstanding clause in response to a court challenge launched in part by Egale Canada as well. Despite Saskatchewan's use of the notwithstanding clause, a judge ruled that a challenge could continue on the legislation, though that decision was appealed by the province. A decision on Saskatchewan's appeal is expected Monday. Smith has said invoking the notwithstanding clause isn't off the table to ensure Alberta's gender-affirming care ban is enforced.
CBC
08-08-2025
- Health
- CBC
Alberta government appeals injunction of transgender health-care law
Alberta is appealing a temporary injunction of a law banning doctors from providing gender-affirming care to youth. A judge ruled in June that the provincial law raises serious Charter issues that need to be hashed out in an ongoing court challenge of the legislation. Court of King's Bench Justice Allison Kuntz ruled the law is likely to cause irreparable harm to gender diverse youth and contrary evidence submitted from the province wasn't overwhelming enough. The government argues the injunction was premature, since the law wasn't fully in effect, and that the judge made a mistake in deciding it would cause irreparable harm. It has said the law was passed to protect children from making potentially irreversible decisions about their bodies.
CTV News
08-08-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Alberta government appeals injunction of transgender health-care law
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Justice Mickey Amery announce proposed changes to several pieces of democratic process legislation, in Edmonton on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Alberta is appealing a temporary injunction of a law banning doctors from providing gender-affirming care to youth. A judge ruled in June that the provincial law raises serious Charter issues that need to be hashed out in an ongoing court challenge of the legislation. Court of King's Bench Justice Allison Kuntz ruled the law is likely to cause irreparable harm to gender diverse youth and contrary evidence submitted from the province wasn't overwhelming enough. The government argues the injunction was premature, since the law wasn't fully in effect, and that the judge made a mistake in deciding it would cause irreparable harm. It has said the law was passed to protect children from making potentially irreversible decisions about their bodies. Egale Canada, one of the groups challenging the law, says it respects the province's right to appeal but believes the judge made the right decision. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 8, 2025. By Jack Farrell in Edmonton
Khaleej Times
30-07-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Why young adults are suffering cardiac arrests: Doctors explain alarming trend
A viral video showing a young man collapsing mid-game on a badminton court in Hyderabad has sparked concern on social media, prompting conversations about sudden cardiac arrests among the youth. The footage shows a 26-year-old resident of Hyderabad playing casually with friends when he suddenly drops to the ground. One moment, he's chasing a shuttle, and the next, he is motionless, which left his friends and viewers shocked. The video shows that his friends thought he had slipped at first. But when he didn't get up, they started panicking. They rushed to help, performed chest compressions, and took him to the nearest private hospital. Sadly, it was too late. Doctors concluded him dead on arrival. The video, now widely circulated on social media, has sparked discussions about how physically active, seemingly healthy young people are collapsing without warning. Similar cases in the UAE Khaleej Times reported two similar cases in the UAE. In one case, a man collapsed while walking down the street. In another case, a resident lost consciousness while playing. In both instances, doctors found major heart blockages, with one patient having 90 percent artery obstruction, all before the age of 35. Now, cardiologists are raising alarms on the situation and urge the residents for a checkup and early diagnosis. Doctors said that there has been an increase in cardiac arrest cases among individuals under 35 in recent years. This trend is part of a broader rise in cardiovascular events among younger adults, a phenomenon observed across the country. 'Premature coronary heart disease is happening 10–15 years earlier in the UAE compared to Western countries,' said Dr Soe Moe Aung, interventional cardiologist at Burjeel Specialty Hospital in Sharjah. He attributes the rise to a potent combination of lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and genetic predispositions. 'This disturbing pattern is no longer rare,' said Dr Aung. 'We have seen a noticeable surge in cardiac arrest cases involving individuals under 35,' added Dr Ghassan Nakad, specialist interventional cardiologist at Medcare Hospital Al Safa. 'Many are in their 20s and 30s. It's no longer a disease of the old.' No warning, no symptoms Doctors said that while some patients report early symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations and many show no signs at all until the event strikes. 'Congenital conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or Brugada syndrome often remain silent,' said Dr Aung. 'That's why early screening is crucial.' In fact, many patients simply push through the symptoms, assuming it's fatigue or lack of fitness, especially when they occur during exercise. Triggers and risk factors Doctors point to lifestyle and environmental triggers as the leading contributors to such diseases: Smoking and vaping High-fat, processed diets Sedentary habits Mental stress and poor sleep Stimulant or drug use Undiagnosed hereditary heart conditions 'The UAE's fast-paced lifestyle, long work hours, and reliance on fast food are accelerating heart risk in people much younger than expected,' said Dr Nakad. He also warned that intense physical activity, such as gym workouts or sports, can trigger cardiac arrest in those with undetected heart issues. 'Exercise is generally good for the heart, but for some, especially those with underlying heart conditions, it can become the very thing that tips them over,' said Dr Nakad. Signs to watch out for Doctors urge the public to take early symptoms seriously. Warning signs that should never be ignored include: Chest discomfort or pain Shortness of breath Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat Fainting or dizziness Discomfort in the jaw, arms, or back during exertion 'Even one episode of unexplained breathlessness or fainting should prompt a checkup,' said Dr Aung. Should young adults get screened? The doctors said that it's required for young adults to get screened, 'especially those with a family history of heart conditions or those with unhealthy lifestyles,' said Dr Aung. 'Basic tests like ECG, echocardiograms, lipid panels, blood pressure checks, and blood sugar tests can go a long way,' said Dr Aung. 'They are simple and can save lives.' Even people who feel perfectly fine are encouraged to get screened once every few years in their 20s and 30s, and annually as they approach their 40s. 'Seconds matter' According to Dr Aung, globally, about 60 percent of cardiac arrest patients die before reaching the hospital, and only 9 to 16 percent of those who are admitted survive until discharge. However, survival rates can improve drastically if CPR and defibrillation are administered within the first few minutes. 'If emergency help is given immediately, survival can be as high as 90 percent,' said Dr Nakad. 'Unfortunately, many don't receive timely aid, especially in public places.' Wake-up call for the young Doctors said that it's time for young people to stop assuming that youth equals immunity. Heart health is no longer something to think about later in life. 'Start today. Get moving. Eat clean. Quit smoking. Sleep well. And most importantly, listen to your body,' said Dr Aung.
