1: Here Comes the Sun (Protection)

An RCT of 364 parent-child dyads explored melanoma prevention strategies for children of melanoma survivors. Comparing a four-week telehealth education module with general skin cancer education, researchers found that while the intervention did not significantly reduce sunburns in children overall, it led to greater improvements in sun-protective behaviours. These findings suggest that telehealth education, combined with additional strategies, may be needed to better protect high-risk children from sun damage.

2: Does Attention Deficit Now = Memory Deficit Later? 

A cohort study of more than 180,000 adults found that ADHD was associated with a significantly higher hazard of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 4.60; 95% CI, 3.99–5.29; P < .001). Using electronic health records and genomic data, researchers identified a potential association that warrants further investigation. More research is needed to determine how early support and integrated care could benefit this at-risk population. 

3: A Decade of Improved Disease Control in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis 

In the OPERA I/II RCT involving 1,656 patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, treatment with ocrelizumab for up to 10 years led to near-complete and sustained suppression of relapse activity. Additionally, early initiation of the biologic was linked to less disability progression, with no new safety signals, including serious infections, reported over the long-term study period. These findings support the long-term efficacy and safety profile of ocrelizumab for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis and underscore the importance of early treatment initiation.

Closing or relocating a practice does not end a physician’s responsibility for patient records. Across Canada, provincial colleges require advance notice before a planned closure, commonly 90 days, and set minimum retention periods that vary by province. The CMPA recommends retaining records for at least ten years from the last entry, or ten years from the age of majority. Throughout that period, patients must continue to have access to their records.

In practice, this means two distinct bodies of work.

The first is the closure itself. Every patient in the practice must be notified, which can mean thousands of letters prepared and mailed using frequently outdated patient lists. This involves printing, stuffing envelopes and spending thousands of dollars on postage alone. Undeliverable mail requires follow-up, while notices generate calls from patients asking where their records will be held and how to access them.

The second begins after retirement. For a decade or longer, requests continue arriving from patients, new physicians, insurers and legal counsel. Each requires verified written authorization, accurate record retrieval and copying, and secure delivery to the appropriate recipient.

Records Management acts as the records custodian for physicians across Canada, managing these responsibilities so physicians can enjoy their retirement. Services include:

Practices with several thousand patients are routine. Notices are handled through an in-house high-volume print and mail facility, while automated voice notifications can reach thousands of patients within hours. Staff then follow up individually throughout the notification period.

For family physicians, pediatricians and other practices with comparable patient volumes, the service is provided at no cost for active patient charts. There is no closure fee or monthly storage charge. Other specialty practices are quoted individually.

Physicians considering retirement should ideally make arrangements four to six months before closing.

1: 💔 5 Quebec physicians have died by suicide since March, prompting more than 1,500 doctors to call for a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Quebec's chief coroner has now launched a coordinated investigation to determine whether any common contributing factors exist. Physicians have raised concerns about mounting workloads, professional pressures and barriers to seeking mental health support. While no connection between the deaths has been established, the cases have renewed urgent questions about physician well-being and whether Canada's health-care system is doing enough to support its own.

2: 👁️ An experimental blindness treatment is offering a sight of hope for people with advanced retinitis pigmentosa. In a small trial, researchers used gene therapy to make surviving retinal cells sensitive to light, then special goggles to stimulate them. Seven of the ten participants showed improved light sensitivity, with six achieving clinically meaningful gains, including the ability to detect and locate objects. Larger studies are needed, but the findings suggest that even severely damaged visual systems may have some sight left to recover.

3: 🤒 The death of a laboratory worker at a Siberian anti-plague institute has left the World Health Organization with an unanswered question: what killed her? Russian authorities say the woman died of severe pneumonia on October 2, but testing found no evidence of plague or other high-threat pathogens. No linked cases have been identified, although the cause of her illness remains unknown. WHO says a laboratory-related exposure cannot yet be ruled out.

4: 📕 Canadian poet and classicist Anne Carson, 76, has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. Known for blending poetry, prose and classical scholarship in works such as Autobiography of Red (1998) and Nox (2010), she's the third Canadian-born writer to receive the honour, following Saul Bellow and Alice Munro, and the first U of T alumna. Carson was sweeping her kitchen when the phone rang with the news. She only called back at her husband's insistence.

💬 We're kicking off a new Question of the Week over on r/Postcall, our Reddit community where Canadian physicians can share stories, swap experiences and connect with colleagues.

This week's question: What's one thing you learned in med school that turned out to be completely useless in practice? 🤔

Head over to Reddit, drop your answer in the comments and see what other docs have to say!

2,857 pounds: the weight of the world's heaviest officially recognized pumpkin. The monster gourd, nicknamed Bagheera, tipped the scales at more than 1,295 kilograms, roughly the weight of two and a half concert grand pianos. The record-breaking pumpkin has some serious competition, though, with growers battling for heavyweight glory in California.

56 days: the sweet spot for booking cheaper holiday flights, according to Google. But forget everything you've heard about buying tickets on Tuesdays. An analysis of 5 years of airfare data reveals some surprising ways to save, including which days to fly and when waiting for a deal could cost you more. See what Google Flights recommends before booking your holiday getaway.

🌊 Travel and learn: Who says continuing medical education has to happen in a conference room? Swap the classroom for an ocean view with CMEatSEA.

This December, embark on an extraordinary 16-night luxury cruise from Bali to Sydney, combining accredited medical education with unforgettable travel experiences. Learn from distinguished speakers Dr. Nicholas Leyland and Dr. David Finkelstein, connect with fellow physicians, explore breathtaking destinations, and earn up to 34 CME credits along the way. Only a few suites remain!
Explore CMEatSEA & reserve today.

🎃 Bake: something a little more exciting than pumpkin pie. King Arthur Baking's 12 best October recipes include pumpkin cake bars, Halloween brownies and mini apple pies.

🧠 Test yourself: on your diagnostic skills with the New England Journal of Medicine's Image Challenge. Examine a clinical image, choose your diagnosis and see how your answer compares with other readers. No peeking!

🤑 Save: $416 on cleaner air at home. The Coway Airmega 400 air purifier is down to $549 (regularly $965). With HEPA filtration, automatic air-quality monitoring and coverage for large spaces, it might be time to give your indoor air an upgrade.

▶️ Watch: Dr. Mike react to TLC's My Strange Addiction, where people confess to eating couch cushions, drinking up to 100 cups of coffee a day and some seriously unusual habits.

First clue: Take in per os

Need a rematch? We’ve got you covered. Check out our Crossword Archive to find every puzzle we’ve ever made, all in one place.

Think you crushed it? Challenge your physician friends to beat your time.

Want to reach thousands of Canadian physicians every week? Email [email protected] to learn more.