A news report said the vaccine used a few years ago to protect against the H1N1 flu virus could have caused narcolepsy in children. Is the flu shot...
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
Minimally-invasive surgery not minimally painful
I recently had a minimally-invasive heart-bypass operation. I wasn’t prepared for the amount of pain I felt in the first few days after the surgery.
How to prepare for end of life care
I want to create some instructions about my medical treatment if I am ever in a situation where I can't speak for myself. Is a living will my best...
Moving across Canada reveals disparities in health coverage
I am planning to move from Ontario to B.C. I will have to wait about three months before I am eligible to receive health coverage from Ontario. Why?
Why ovarian cancer often evades early detection
A friend died of ovarian cancer. By the time it was discovered, it was too late to cure her. When will there be a reliable screening test for this...
How to seek financial aid for costly cancer drugs
QUESTION: My wife was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. We are both self-employed. So we don’t have drug insurance coverage through a workplace...
Waiting for a nursing home bed in hospital
If you are on a list for a nursing home, you stay on that list, no matter where you are residing – a hospital, home or retirement facility.
A patient shops out of province for a joint replacement
A patient shops for a hospital to receive joint replacement surgery based on wait time, availability and reputation.
A Second Opinion for a Life-Changing Diagnosis
Question: My sister was told that she has MSA atypical Parkinson's. We want to get a second opinion, as she cannot accept her fate. Can you help us?
The link between physical symptoms and psychiatric disturbances
Do physical symptoms cause psychiatric disturbances or is it the other way around?