After years of conflicting opinions, dentists and surgeons recently concluded that antibiotics aren’t needed before dental procedures after all.
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
Do women react differently than men to medications?
In some cases, the ways men and women respond to medications may differ.
Some patients face barriers accessing assisted death
My father has terminal cancer and he asked his family doctor about having an assisted death. But his doctor seems hesitant to do it. Are other...
Alzheimer’s drugs may help ease symptoms – at least for a while
My father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Are there any medications that can help him?
Can a genetic test help speed up depression treatment?
I suffer from depression and my doctor has already prescribed me several different antidepressant drugs. But none of them seem to help much. Is there...
Parliament considers privacy rules for genetic tests
As it stands, the legislation would prevent employers or businesses from requiring you to take a genetic test or forcing you to release the results...
U.S. stem cell clinics trading on hope and hype
On the Internet, I came across a bunch of U.S. clinics offering stem-cell treatments for a variety of illnesses. Are these clinics legit?
Do fitness trackers put your privacy at risk?
I bought a fitness tracker, hoping it will help me boost my physical activity. However, a friend said the device might expose my personal health...
How to seek the help of Ontario’s first patient ombudsman
I have a complaint with the care my father received at an Ontario hospital. Can the province's new patient ombudsman help me?
How to reduce the risk of side effects in seniors taking multiple medications
The elderly are especially vulnerable to adverse side effects and medication interactions caused by the drugs they're taking. Here's how to reduce...