Your five worst medical nightmares
From a doctor amputating the wrong leg, to a woman given the wrong baby, it seems hospital treatment does not always go to plan. Luckily, though, mistakes are rare, as Leo Benedictus reports
Sugar is behind global explosion in type 2 diabetes, study finds
Researchers say link between consumption of sugar and diabetes is independent from obesity
NHS recognises that mindfulness meditation is good for depression
Mia Hansson: Scientists have now discovered how mindfulness meditation can give patients control over levels of depression, anxiety and chronic pain
IVF for women over 40 doesn’t address the root of the problem
Katherine Baldwin: Involuntary childlessness is a growing blight on our society. How can we help people to make the most of their early fertility?
There’s no need for this obesity epidemic hysteria
Charlotte Cooper: Forty years of fat activism has shown that people with high body weights can stay healthy without dieting
Prince’s charity lobbied government to water down homeopathy criticism
Foundation for Integrated Medicine persuaded officials to neuter advice about homeopathy on the NHS Choices patient website
Tapping into online communities brings dramatic results in health
The internet offers innovative approaches for targeting specific communities, as one sexual health service found. Rachel Carrell explains
Female genital mutilation questions could be raised by midwives
Campaigners say move to raise issue with pregnant women from communities that practise it could protect unborn girls at risk
Royal College of Surgeons calls for end to ‘casual’ cosmetic treatments
New guidelines say only fully qualified doctors with surgical training should carry out procedures on medical premises
NHS maternity units to share £25m fund to improve childbirth experience
More than 100 hospitals in England will share money to modernise maternity units in midst of ongoing baby boom