AI Scribes were the test run, now Supply Ontario has lessons to learn. Check out this recent piece by @danyaalraza.com and Dr. Sheryl Spithoff about issues with Ontario's AI scribe program. healthydebate.ca/2026/07/abou...

If AI scribes were the test run, Supply Ontario has lessons to learn - Healthy Debate

healthydebate.ca

Hallucinations are only part of the story. Dr. Sheryl Spithoff of @healthtechsoclab.bsky.social & I break down what responsible medical AI scribe should fully include. healthydebate.ca/2026/07/abou...

If AI scribes were the test run, Supply Ontario has lessons to learn - Healthy Debate

healthydebate.ca

Latest in @thestar.com from me & the @healthtechsoclab.bsky.social. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Are you getting weight loss drugs from online marketers instead of a doctor? Here’s the problem with that

Aggressive social media campaigns are blurring the line between marketing specific pharmaceuticals and promoting direct-to-consumer medical services, and they appear to be breaking Canadian legislativ...

thestar.com

A fascinating article! The authors use PurposeMed, a start-up with a virtual care platform, as a case study to demonstrate how corporate powers are transforming Canadian health systems, exploiting communities and accumulating capital. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Privatizing and Prescribing Identity: How Canadian biotechnology firms capture queer, trans, and neurodivergent movements for profit

The pivot to telehealth through the COVID-19 pandemic spawned numerous private investor-owned virtual care firms, capitalizing on loopholes and outdat…

sciencedirect.com

Join us this weekend, at Minofest, the Racialized Reproductive and Maternal Health Conference, where lab director Dr. Sheryl Spithoff will be presenting on the intersections of clinical care, health technologies, and commercial interests! www.minofest.com/conference-s...

Dr. Spithoff will be presenting at the final Health Inc. lecture series of the year on April 16 from 12-1PM. The talk will look at the commercialization of personal health information and the ties between pharma and health technology companies. Register online!

Health Inc Season 5, Episode 5: Commercializing personal health information

Join us for the season 5 finale of the Health Inc Seminar Series.

eventbrite.ca

As #virtualcare becomes increasingly embedded in health systems, our lit review attempts to map the evidence on private sector ownership and control of virtual care platforms. Bottom line: evidence gaps on quality, privacy, and health system impact Project led by Sheryl Spithoff, in @bmj.com Open

New from @healthtechsoclab.bsky.social

Edward Xie@edwardxie.bsky.social · 6mo ago

As #virtualcare becomes increasingly embedded in health systems, our lit review attempts to map the evidence on private sector ownership and control of virtual care platforms. Bottom line: evidence gaps on quality, privacy, and health system impact Project led by Sheryl Spithoff, in @bmj.com Open

We spoke with @royinori.bsky.social and @thelocal.to about growing marketplace of online DTC virtual care platforms for lifestyle drugs. Check it out! thelocal.to/online-pharm...

Inside the Booming Industry Selling Lifestyle Drugs Online | The Local

From erectile dysfunction medicine to hair loss treatment to weight loss drugs—a thriving online market has emerged to seamlessly deliver drugs straight to your door. But what happens when prescriptio...

thelocal.to

A new commentary from the Health Tech & Society Lab in @healthydebate.bsky.social looks at an emerging model of commercialization of medical records in the Canadian healthcare system, and asks what we can learn from other jurisdictions. Check it out below! healthydebate.ca/2026/01/topi...

The quiet commercialization of primary care records - Healthy Debate

An emerging model is quietly turning Canadian patient medical records, and patients themselves, into lucrative commercial assets – often without patients' explicit knowledge or consent.

healthydebate.ca

We are very concerned about Premier Smith's draft legislation to introduce dual practice care into Alberta. This would lead to significant consequences to our health care system and to patients' ability to access care. See our press release below. www.canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca/canadian_doc...

Canadian Doctors for Medicare Warns Albertans of Premier’s Plan to Undermine Public Health Care

Seeking to strengthen and improve Canada's universal publicly-funded health care system. Evidence-based, values driven.

canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca

A group of hospital physicians met for a virtual rounds meeting. What they didn't realize was that Otter.ai was on the call, too. They found out when the AI transcriber sent a transcript of the meeting -- patient information and all -- to dozens of current and former staff after the call.

AI bot recorded doctors’ meeting, sent patient info to current and former hospital staff, watchdog says

The transcription tool recorded the meeting on behalf of a physician who no longer worked at the hospital

theglobeandmail.com

Doctors warn of risks in provinces' deals with private virtual care companies www.cmaj.ca/content/197/... @lindsayhedden.bsky.social @tarakiran.bsky.social @ruthlavergne.bsky.social @cmaj.ca More news → CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁

23andMe, you & 300,000 others in Canada. My latest, with Sheryl Spithoff of @healthtechsoclab.bsky.social www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Leaky genes: How an alarming hack shows that Canada needs new rules around health information

Poor security practices at genetic testing company 23andMe exposed the data of hundreds of thousands of Canadians.

thestar.com

Our newest study reports on the primary care medical record industry in Canada. Data brokers claim to have acquired between 2-4 million records from for-profit chains of medical clinics. Their primary client is the pharmaceutical industry. #privacy Read more: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Check out this morning's interview with Dr Sheryl Spithoff, lab director, on CBC Metro Morning. She discussed how commercial data brokers are making money from Canadian medical records and what this means for patients. #privacy #Health #data #Canada #pharma www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

© CBC/Radio-Canada 2025. All rights reserved.

cbc.ca

"Some health-data companies are selling access to patient records to pharmaceutical companies without patients’ knowledge, according to a new study." Yes, a Canadian finding. Via @healthtechsoclab.bsky.social. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...

Health-data companies selling access to patient records, study says

Research paper highlights potential downsides when private companies are integrated into the health care system in crucial roles without enough oversight

theglobeandmail.com

Check out this commentary by Health Tech and Society members @danyaalraza.com and Sheryl Spithoff, putting forward a model of virtual care that prioritizes care over profit and complements existing comprehensive primary care models healthydebate.ca/2025/01/topi... #OntMed #virtualcare

We need virtual care that cares for everyone - Healthy Debate

Non-profit virtual care has the most potential to not only improve health outcomes but promote health system sustainability.

healthydebate.ca

We need virtual care that cares for everyone canadahealthwatch.ca/2025/01/22/w... by Sheryl Spithoff & @danyaalraza.com

We need virtual care that cares for everyone

Canada Healthwatch | The most important health news, in one place. 🍁

canadahealthwatch.ca

For an excellent breakdown of virtual primary care and how it's paid for in Canada, check out this article by Sheryl Spithoff, Ewan Affleck and @lindsayhedden.bsky.social www.cfp.ca/content/70/1... #cdnhealth

Edward Xie@edwardxie.bsky.social · 2y ago

The use and promotion of Virtual Care is surging. Not including virtual care in the Medicare basket allows companies providing walk-in style services to continue charging Canadians for medically necessary care, turning a profit on fees, and fragmenting high quality primary care. 🧵