— Gentlemen, does Monday have you down? What about the fact that it’s March 1, and March Madness is just around the corner? That’s better. Well, urologists hope you pair that excitement with a vasectomy. The NCAA Tournament is an excellent time to sit down and heal while you watch basketball, doctors say, and many are offering t-shirts and other promotions. It’s ‘Vas Madness.’ (AMNews)

— The British Medical Association (BMA) is pushing for the UK National Health Service (NHS) to purchase fair trade surgical equipment. According to the BMA, one fifth of NHS equipment is currently produced in Pakistan, where child labor is common. (BBC)

— In other BMA news, the association has said that UK patients don’t know enough about their electronic records. A nationwide database is being set up with summaries of patients’ medical records, but the BMA says that there is little public information about the project, and that it’s difficult for patients to opt-out. (Public Service)

— They might not be using cartoon camels, but the indoor tanning industry is using advertising strategies similar to those of the tobacco industry, according to a new analysis. Several tanning bed ads claimed that safety research was exaggerated, while also featuring physicians and noting that beds have been modified for less UVB exposure. Sounds familiar, huh? (ScienceDaily)

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