Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people to wait a long time for a bed when a hospital is nearly full of patients — some call this hospital...
Personal Health Navigator
Paul Taylor retired from his role as Sunnybrook’s Patient Navigation Advisor in 2020. From 2013 to 2020, he wrote a regular column in which he provided advice and answered questions from patients and their families. Follow Paul on Twitter @epaultaylor
Why food studies should be taken with a grain of salt
Food studies drive me crazy. One week, a study finds one thing. The next week, another study concludes the opposite. Why do researchers churn out so...
End-of-life care can suffer when patients move provinces to be near family
My brother has been living in Alberta for several years. He now has terminal cancer and wants to return to Ontario to be with family during the time...
How to make a deposit at a breast-milk bank
I’m a new mom and I am producing more breast milk than my baby needs. Is there a way for me to donate my extra supply to mothers who can't make...
For some patients, research studies can be a fast track to treatment
Why taking part in a research study can sometimes gain patients quicker access to treatment than would normally be the case in our health-care system.
Is it time to toss away the stethoscope?
I recently read that the stethoscope was invented 200 years ago. I find it strange that doctors still use them. Isn’t there something better?
Does a drug that aids breastfeeding pose a risk to moms?
My doctor says I should take domperidone to boost my milk production for my baby. But Google searches suggest it isn't safe. Is it?
How to appeal a cut in your home-care services
My husband suffered a stroke that left him disabled. He receives two hours of home care support a day; it will be soon cut back to one hour. What can...
What are those ghostly objects floating across my eyes?
I often see semi-transparent specs of stuff floating across my field of vision. Does this mean there is a problem with my eyesight?
Do any cold remedies actually work?
Patient question: I've heard that natural health remedies, like Cold-FX, don’t help treat the common cold. What about those pharmaceutical products...