This week's top health stories

New era for research into teenage health

PM - 11/03/2010
Kate Steinbeck has become the first university supported Professor of Adolescent Medicine in Australia. She says her goal is for adolescent medicine to be recognised as a genuine speciality in its own right.

Natural birth safe after Caesarean: panel

Science Online - 11/03/2010
Having a normal vaginal birth after previous babies were delivered surgically is safe, according to an expert review from the US.

Scientists cite setback in prostate treatment

The World Today - 11/03/2010
Scientists in the United States have found a common treatment for prostate cancer may in fact be counter-productive in the long-term. The research shows hormone therapy could lead to even more dangerous and virulent cancers developing in patients already fighting cancer.

Chronic pain summit opens

The World Today - 11/03/2010
Professor Michael Cousins and Helen Owens join The World Today to discuss the first National Pain Summit which has opened in Canberra. It's brought together healthcare professionals and industry groups who are calling for chronic pain to be recognised as a disease.

PM proposes incentive bonuses for efficient hospitals

AM - 11/03/2010
The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has released more information about his health and hospital plan. He has told a meeting of the AMA that his blueprint will provide cash bonuses for hospitals that out-perform new national benchmarks to cut waiting times in emergency departments and for elective surgery.

Kidney Health Australia calls for more preventative care

The World Today - 10/03/2010
Kidney Health Australia has delivered a wish list to the Federal Government that calls for increased support services for people who have to undergo dialysis. They're also calling for a renewed focus on early detection and intervention, so that fewer people would need dialysis in the first place.

Govt to try again on private health after Senate rebuff

AM - 10/03/2010
The Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner, denies the Government has a strategy problem in dealing with the Senate despite its latest rejection of Government legislation. The Upper House has again blocked the means test of private health insurance, turning it into a double dissolution election trigger.

Teen sterilisation ruling sparks ethics debate

PM - 09/03/2010
The Family Court has granted permission to a couple who want to have a hysterectomy performed on their profoundly disabled daughter. The family and their doctors told the Family Court that the girl suffers Rett Syndrome and her periods trigger epileptic attacks. Disability activists are split over whether a hysterectomy would improve her quality of life.

Vitamin D linked to body's immune system

The World Today - 09/03/2010
New research from the University of Copenhagen has shown that vitamin D plays a significant role in activating t-cells, which are part of the body's immune system. Experts say they're concerned that as many as a quarter of Australians are vitamin D deficient.

Medical graduates to miss out on internships

The World Today - 09/03/2010
Hundreds of medical students may be prevented from qualifying as doctors due to a looming shortage of training places. Deans of the nation's medical schools say there won't be enough intern places for all graduates within a few years if state and federal governments don't increase the number of places.