HONcode certificate: respect of the 8 HONcode principles by the health website

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Certificate of compliance with the Code of Conduct HONcode

The health Website
About: Asthma
is in compliance with the HONcode

Title of the site: About: Asthma
Web address: http://asthma.about.com/
HONcode PIN number : HONConduct780056
Date of initial review: 21 May 2001
Validity of certificate 21 Jan 2013 - Jan 2015
Date of last visit 21 Jan 2013

This certificate confirms the revision of the site by the HONcode Team at the above date.
It respects and pledges to honor the 8 principles of the HON Code of Conduct (HONcode).

* 1. Authoritative 2. Complementarity 3. Privacy 4. Attribution 5. Justifiability 6. Transparency
7. Financial disclosure 8. Advertising policy

Speed access of ethical health information online is critical.

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Do you think the site is not respecting the HONcode?

The Health on the Net (HON) certificate serves as a guarantee that this website, at the date of its certification, complies with and pledges to honor the 8 principles of the HON Code of Conduct as drawn up by the HON foundation.

The responsible of the certified site commits to keep the site in compliance with the HON code principles for the duration of the certification.

Although measures such as a complaint mechanism, the periodical review and the automatic surveillance mechanisms are put in place to guarantee the compliance of the certified website with the ethical principles of HON as much as possible, incidental inaccuracies cannot be completely excluded. In no event the HON foundation and/or its partner(s) can be held liable for any damages resulting from the use or inability to use HON certified websites nor can the HON foundation and/or its partner(s) be held liable for the content of these certified websites, including, but not limited to the information of third-parties or hyperlinks accessible via HON certified websites.

The certified website is responsible for the content of its website, unless otherwise provided by law.

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You will find below the elements identified by the HONcode team at a precise date to justify the respect of the 8 ethical principles.

The content of this certificate has been collected and written by the Health On the Net Foundation (HON) and should not be used without previous permission granted by HON. A request for permission can be sent to: HON.

1. Information must be authoritative

Pat, About.com's Guide to Asthma, is a board certified internist and pediatrician and a Fellow of both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians.
(24 Sep 2010) -

For the collaborative platform:

This forum is monitored by Pat Bass, your Guide to Asthma, according to the Forum Guidelines and About.com’s User Agreement. He works to monitor this forum and checks the forum at least 5 times a week. (...) E Noonan (NO dot after the E) has lived with asthma for 40 years, and had an older brother who died of asthma, so she is intimately connected to the issues that come from living with asthma. She was also a respiratory therapist many years ago. She volunteers as a moderator at least weekly on this forum.
Disruptive messages that attack other members of the forum or the forum commun... (24 Sep 2010) -

2. Presentation of the site
Mission:

With nearly 800 Guides, About.com helps users find solutions to a wide range of daily needs – from parenting, health care and technology to cooking, travel and many others.
(24 Sep 2010) -

For the collaborative platform:

The forum is a great place to ask questions and meet other people who share your interest. Whether your goal is how to help your child live better with their asthma or get better control of your asthma, everyone can find a place to participate.
(24 Sep 2010) -

Audience:

With nearly 800 Guides, About.com helps users find solutions to a wide range of daily needs – from parenting, health care and technology to cooking, travel and many others.
(24 Sep 2010) -

For the collaborative platform:

You represent, warrant and covenant (a) that no materials of any kind submitted through your account will (i) violate, plagiarize, or infringe upon the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark, privacy or other personal or proprietary rights; or (ii) contain libelous or otherwise unlawful material; and (b) that you are at least thirteen years old.
Welcome to the Asthma Discussion forum, a place for people with asthma and / or parents of kids with asthma.
(24 Sep 2010) -

Purpose of the website

The information, facts, and opinions provided are no substitute for professional advice. Always consult your primary care physician for any medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and before undertaking a new diet or exercise plan. This Service and the Sites are for informational purposes and should be used in conjunction with health care professionals.
(24 Sep 2010) -

3. Confidentiality

About.com will never share, rent, or sell your personal information without your consent, unless it is required by law. (...) About.com will use cookies, pixel trackers, server logs, and any Internet technology in order to measure the effectiveness of the About service and any Advertising campaigns as well as to target meaningful content and Ads to our users.
About.com uses DoubleClick, Google, and other third-party Ad Servers to serve and display Advertisements on About.com. About.com does not provide personally identifiable information to Ad Servers. They may use cookies, pixel tracke... (24 Sep 2010) -

For the collaborative platform:

You should be aware that if you voluntarily disclose personal information (e.g., user name, email address) on a bulletin board, chat room or on any other user or member generated pages, that information can be collected and used by others and may result in unsolicited messages from other parties.
(24 Sep 2010) -

4. Information must be documented: Referenced and dated

Only data for one sample are displayed among those selected.

Sources:
"Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma: Full Report 2007." NIH Publication No. 07-4051, Aug. 2007. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. 12 Jan. 2008
Gyllfors, Par, Grazyna Bochenek, John Overholt, Diane Drupka, Maria Kumlin, James Sheller, Eza Nizankowska, Peter C. Isakson, Filip Mejza, James B. Lefkowith, Sven-Erik Dahlen, Andrew Szczeklik, John J. Murray, and Barbro Dahlen. "Biochemical and Clin... (24 Sep 2010) -

For the collaborative platform:

If you post health/medical information that is not related to your personal experience, please cite a reference (for example, provide a link to an online source).
(24 Sep 2010) -

Updated May 28, 2010
(24 Sep 2010) -

For the collaborative platform:

Posted: Jun 14 10 08:36 PM
(24 Sep 2010) -

5. Justification of claims

This principle is not applicable for this site

For the collaborative platform:

You agree to only post information that is true and correct in light of your knowledge.
(24 Sep 2010) -

6. User support and adequation

Like all the Guides at About.com, I'm a real person. We would like to hear about any suggestions, ideas, or questions you might have. You can email us at
Please complete the form below, and provide as much detail as you can.
(24 Sep 2010) -

7. Disclosure of funding sources

About.com is a top 20 Web property that is part of The New York Times Company.
(24 Sep 2010) -

For the collaborative platform:

This forum is monitored by Pat Bass, your Guide to Asthma, according to the Forum Guidelines and About.com’s User Agreement.
E Noonan (...) volunteers as a moderator at least weekly on this forum.
(24 Sep 2010) -

8. Advertising policy

Advertisement
Sponsored content
Asthma ads
(24 Sep 2010) -

All advertising content is clearly distinguished from the editorial content by the following labels: advertisement, sponsored links, ads. We do not accept advertisements for any illegal products or services or advertisements that About.com feels are objectionable or in bad taste.
(24 Sep 2010) -

Advertising Policy
(24 Sep 2010) -

For the collaborative platform:

You shall not, without the express approval of About.com, distribute or otherwise publish any material containing any solicitation of funds, advertising or solicitation for goods or services.
No advertising: Commercial messages, spam or solicitations are prohibited.
(24 Sep 2010) -

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