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Students from the University of Notre Dame in Merredin.

Medical ProgramUniversity medical students experience regional practices

More than 200 medical students swapped the city lecture theatres for life in the country earlier this month, immersing themselves in country communities through the Wheatbelt Medical Immersion Program. 

Amy Towers

The punishment dished out for minor drug possession can vary significantly, analysis shows. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

MedicinePremium'Poorly designed' minor drug diversion scheme panned

Data has found few people are being granted access to a drug diversion scheme designed to stop minor offenders being trapped in court processes.

Alex Mitchell

Groups supporting medicinal cannabis have urged caution after a report questioned its use. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

MedicinePremiumMedicinal cannabis concerns half-baked, advocates say

An analysis has found no evidence medicinal cannabis is effective for treating many illnesses but advocates say more data is needed to make a definitive call.

Will Nicholas and Tom Wark

A biotech company's share price plunged after the failure of a lung cancer treatment drug. (David Crosling/AAP PHOTOS)

MedicinePremiumBiotech shares plunge after lung cancer drug's failure

An ASX biotech formerly worth over $500 million has lost most of its value after its drug failed to treat lung cancer effectively.

Derek Rose

Poppy capsules have been stolen from a legal crop prompting a warning of severe risk from ingestion. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

MedicinePremiumWarning after toxic poppy pods pinched from legal crop

The theft of a "significant quantity" of poppy capsules from a regulated crop is under investigation as authorities warn ingestion could be life-threatening.

Samantha Lock

Nasdaq-listed stock of Kazia Therapeutics surged after it announced a successful cancer treatment. (David Crosling/AAP PHOTOS)

MedicinePremiumOncology company reports promising cancer find

Shares in Kazia Therapeutics have risen more than 50 per cent after its drug candidate appeared to successfully treat a woman with stage-four breast cancer.

Derek Rose

Dr Himanshu Brahambhatt and Dr Jennifer MacDiarmid, pictured in Central Park, first began their biotech company 24 years ago.

TVSBS doco charts Aussie cancer scientists’ epic quest

The Cancer Killers follows two Australian scientists as they fight against the odds to bring a potentially game-changing cancer treatment to the world.

Clare Rigden

The two AFL coaches say workers taking medically prescribed cannabis should not lose their jobs. (Daniel Pockett/AAP PHOTOS)

MedicinePremiumAFL coaches tackle job protection for cannabis users

The AFL's most decorated current coaches have re-entered the political realm to call for lawmakers to protect medicinal cannabis users from losing their jobs.

Callum Godde

Olivia Saint, 10 (right) has type 1 diabetes. She is pictured with little sister Emily Saint, 6, who is showing pre-diabetic signs at PCH.

Public HealthPremiumNew early-stage Type 1 diabetes clinic easing family stress

Children are often diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes once they become unwell but a first-of-its-kind clinic is working to change this by offering support to families with kids with early stages of the disease. 

Claire Sadler

ECU postdoctoral research fellow Mary Kennedy says implementation strategies need to be come in to ensure patients are receiving the right level of care.

HealthWA study reveals cancer patients missing exercise support

A majority of oncology healthcare providers are not giving exercise guidance to their patients despite extensive research proving the benefits for people living with cancer. 

Claire Sadler

Kenneth Lee leaves the Fremantle Justice Complex in 2020.

repeat offenderPremiumPerth doctor falsified medical prescription to cover tracks

A Perth doctor formerly banned from treating women after attacking his ex-girlfriend has been fined $10,000 for prescribing himself testosterone injections.

Sarah Steger

Rural Clincal School of WA students Ahmed Ibrahim, Stefano ‘David’ Konig, Sarah Jakobson and Jennifer Yeoman on their first day of placement at Narrogin Health Service.

RURAL MEDPremiumEmerging rural medics begin placement at Narrogin

A fresh group of four emerging medical professionals began their year-long placement at Narrogin Health Service on Monday with two students returning to their Narrogin home.

Hannah Whitehead

IVF clinician and University of Western Australia researcher, Professor Roger Hart.

HealthPremiumWhy IVF pregnancies are at a greater risk of birth defects

Australian researchers have discovered why some IVF pregnancies may be at a greater risk of birth defects compared to naturally conceived pregnancies.

Hannah Cross

Experts have warned some common medicine cabinet drugs become toxic after just three months.

MedicineThe medicines you should never use past sell-by dates

Experts have warned some common medicine cabinet drugs become toxic after just three months.

Jo Macfarlane

Taking a paracetamol pill may do more than soothe your ache – it could turn you into a reckless risk-taker, research suggests.

MedicineCommentsHow taking common medication could make you more reckless

Taking a paracetamol pill may do more than soothe your ache – it could turn you into a reckless risk-taker, research suggests.

Roger Dobson

Rural Clinical School students Chelsea Francis, Zoe Polgase, Cleo Wiese, Mikala Bower and David Lochore.

RURAL MEDICINEPremiumMedical students complete year-long Narrogin placement

Narrogin’s medical students have farewelled the town after their year-long placement.

Hannah Whitehead

Testing the impact of medicinal cannabis on driver responses is at the core of a new study. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

MedicinePremiumCannabis driver study joint venture takes to the road

A study to test medicinal cannabis' impact on drivers has begun, days after Victoria's upper house drew a line between impairment and a positive blood test.

Adrian Black

Magistrates have sentencing discretion for drivers who test positive, if they hold a prescription. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

MedicinePremiumCommon sense prescription for medical cannabis drivers

Traces of cannabis detected in drivers who are prescribed the drug will no longer automatically cost them their licence under a tweak to sentencing laws.

Melissa Meehan

Britta Regli-von Ungern-sternberg.

ScienceCommentsPremiumPrestigious national science prize for WA anaesthetist

A WA anaesthetist who pioneered life-changing research into finding ways to make surgery safer for children has been recognised in this year’s prestigious Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.

Bethany Hiatt

A survey has shown nearly a third of people questioned developed body dissatisfaction between the ages of five and seven.

Shock findingsMore than half of young people don’t like the way they look

At least half of school-aged young people dislike their bodies and admit this has caused them to miss school, according to alarming new research.

Katie Hampson

Health authorities are warning of cocaine being laced with a deadly opioid. (David Ewing/AAP PHOTOS)

MedicinePremiumWarning opioid-laced cocaine could be a killer

Cocaine users in Melbourne have been warned their drugs could contain a potentially lethal opioid that could lead to an overdose.

Melissa Meehan

Ambulances parked outside Royal Perth Hospital’s emergency department yesterday.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Heath & wellbeingCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Shonky NDIS providers driving dreadful ambulance ramping

A surge in the number of hours that ambulances are being forced to ‘ramp’ outside WA public hospitals is being contributed to by poorly run NDIS providers sending their vulnerable clients to the facilities.

Phil Hickey and Josh Zimmerman

Michael Winlo, managing director of ASX-listed Emyria, is not fazed by a recent ruling from the US.

HealthCommentsPremiumWA biotechs unfazed by US panel vote against MDMA therapy

WA biotech executives have not been deterred by recent news that advisers to the US health regulator have voted against the use of MDMA as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Cheyanne Enciso

Bec Daniher, Campaigns Director, FightMND announces Michael Hussey as a special guest ‘WA Freeze’ dunkee.

Big Freeze VideoCommentsPremiumMike Hussey joins the fight against MND

A cricketing legend is set to take the plunge as Australian test champion Mike Hussey was unveiled as the latest ‘dunkee’ for the WA Freeze.