At first, Asisi Kaufusi's parents thought he had a cold.

Cancer was the leading cause of death in New Zealand in 2010, accounting for nearly a third of all deaths, writes Simon Sutcliffe. That's an increase of nearly 13 per cent between 2000 and 2010.

When Andrew Hedge comes to the aid of the sick and dying, a look of calm crosses the patient's face.

Mental health nurses are speaking out against brutal violence inflicted by their patients, including being punched, kicked, burnt and stabbed and choked.

I met Dr Patrick Kelly in 2000 after a spate of infamous abuse cases brought to light the horrifying extent of child maltreatment in New Zealand.

There may be a perception that cannabis is benign, writes Dr Dale Bramley. But staff running mental health, addiction and emergency services can tell you beyond doubt that it's otherwise.

A high number of people who suffer a heart attack leave hospital without all the information they need - putting them at risk of another.

Amputee Diane Smith has had 208 consultations at Auckland's state-owned artificial limb centre, yet none of the legs it has made for her has ever fitted properly.

A Hawke's Bay nurse who admitted professional misconduct for having a sexual relationship with one of his patients has had his registration cancelled

Hospital wards need to be redesigned to provide urgently needed defences against the spread of deadly, antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

Carmel Berry feels like she has been "sitting on a barbed wire fence" for almost a decade since having an operation to repair a prolapsed uterus.

A midwife who stopped monitoring a baby during birth against instruction from an obstetrician has been ordered to apologise to the infants mother over his death.

A registered nurse looked up the medical records of her former husband's new partner more than 40 times.

Thousands of critically ill or unconscious patients have been enrolled without their consent in clinical trials to test treatments in New Zealand hospitals.

Working at the hospice reminds you of what life is about - being with the people you love and who love you the most.

In an election year, it can be easy for the big issues, such as health, to become just political footballs, writes Ian McPherson.

PM John Key says leaving some synthetic drugs on the market was “a mistake” and Government should have banned all products until a rigorous testing regime was in place.

New Zealanders whose lives have been blighted by the dangers of legal highs are thrilled by plans to pull them from sale within a fortnight.

A nurse bequeathed $315,000 by an elderly couple who she cared for has been cleared of unethical behaviour by the health watchdog.

Staff at East Tamaki Healthcare general practices have been donning wigs, wings, hula skirts and decorating clinics to encourage patients to take more notice of their health.

An Auckland doctor training to be an anaesthetist has been censured, suspended from practice and charged with misconduct over her struggles with alcohol.

Labour will roll out a nationwide bowel cancer screening programme within three years if it is elected, leader David Cunliffe announced this afternoon.

A rural doctor has been found guilty of professional misconduct for giving women drugs to induce abortions.

Many Kiwi couples trying to conceive are ignorant of the risks to their fertility through delayed childbearing, smoking, alcohol and being overweight, research shows.

Family and friends commented on what beautiful skin Elliott Gulliver had when she was born - unaware of the jaundice her olive skin was masking.