Corrigendum to "What's in a name? Variations in terminology of third-party reproduction" [Reproductive BioMedicine Online 31 (2015) 805-814].

The authors regret that the reference "Dickenson, 2012" was incomplete in the reference list. Full reference details are given below: Dickenson, D., 2012. Bioethics: All That Matters. Hodder Education, London. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

What's in a name? Variations in terminology of third-party reproduction.

The terminology used to discuss third-party reproduction, as with other new biomedical processes, can ease or impede communication and even influence behaviour. In an effort to sensitize analysts and stakeholders to variations in terminology and to facilitate communication on issues arising from international surrogacy arrangements, this paper examines variations in terms used. We introduce some of the issues previously raised by scholars concerned with analysis of discourse related to third-party reproduction. We then survey the terms used in English-language discussions to denote specific actors, including 'surrogates,' 'intended parents,' gamete providers and children, as well as terms used to describe 'surrogacy arrangements.' We conclude with a discussion on navigating and negotiating the use of these various and value-laden terms.

The health and economic consequences of cigarette smoking in Alabama, 2009-2010.

While CDC reports on the health and economic burden of smoking in the United States, state-specific data are not readily available. We estimated the health and economic consequences of cigarette smoking in Alabama to provide the state legislature with the state-specific data that reveal the direct impact of smoking on their constituents. We estimated that in 2009, almost 7,900 adult deaths (18% of all adult deaths) and approximately 121,000 years of potential life lost among Alabama adults aged 35 years and older were attributable to cigarette smoking. Productivity losses due to premature death and smoking-attributable illness were estimated at $2.84 billion and $941 million, respectively. Our findings support a strong need for tobacco control and prevention programs to decrease the health and economic burden of smoking in Alabama. These results are being used by the State Health Officer to illustrate the real costs of smoking in Alabama and to advocate for improved tobacco control policies.

Implementation of school policies to prevent youth tobacco use in Alabama.

BACKGROUND: Public health professionals must monitor the effectiveness of school policies and programs to prevent youth initiation, promote quitting, and eliminate secondhand smoke. This analysis of school tobacco policies was preliminary to release of a state tobacco prevention and control plan for 2010-2015. METHODS: University health educators collaborated with the state health agency to review policies of 33 school systems in 5 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and 9 public health areas. Authors developed a systematic approach of 8 steps useful to rate implementation of school tobacco control and prevention policies and discuss implications for health education program planning. RESULTS: Thirty school policies prohibited possession and use of tobacco by students, faculty and campus visitors, and 26 of 33 specified disciplinary measures following violations. Only 4 public education agencies included 3 of the 6 elements of a model tobacco prevention and control policy as suggested by the state public health agency. None featured all 6 elements. None specified establishing school-community partnerships for tobacco prevention and control. CONCLUSIONS: Preparing smoke-free youth requires implementing and evaluating tobacco education in grades K-12 including use of model guidelines from federal agencies and professional organizations. Determining the focus of existing school tobacco policies is an initial step to encourage adoption of comprehensive policies to reduce youth use of tobacco. Youth health advocates may act together with school administrators and legislators to strengthen policies to be consistent with model guidelines for tobacco prevention and control.

Egg harvesting for stem cell research: medical risks and ethical problems.

Increasingly, researchers are seeking eggs from young women to be used for embryo cloning procedures. The harvesting of multiple eggs often involves the administration of drugs that have not been approved for this purpose. Also these drugs have not been adequately studied for their long-term effects on women despite research providing some evidence of significant harm to women in both the short and long term. Current practices follow a historical pattern of exposing women to risks that ultimately prove unacceptable. In addition, egg harvesting is taking place in a research climate marked by conflicts of interest, the misleading use of language to describe research goals, and a commercial push that may lead to the exploitation of young women. In this article, we outline these matters and explain how they are leading to an international campaign for a moratorium on egg harvesting for cloning purposes.