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An introduction is presented to a section on the sociology of organ donation, noting articles on topics including the role of altruism in kidney donation and breastmilk sharing, the notion of tissue donation as a gendered practice, and the sociology of contributions to health research.

The aim of this paper is to examine the meaning of the concept of donation in health research. Drawing on a set of narrative interviews with people invited to donate biosamples for research and a range of other studies, we identify several conceptual themes that speak to the complexity of the current landscape of critical thinking about donation. These conceptual themes are: the language of 'donation'; a hierarchy of biosamples; alternative informational value; narratives as donation; coincidental donation, convenience and degree of invasiveness; and rights, consent and benefits of research participation. We call for a reconceptualisation of research donation to encompass not only the numerous types of sample readily classed as donations, but also other types of data and contributions, including narrative interviews, psychometric data, patient‐reported outcome measures, record‐linkage, and time and effort. We argue for the development of a pluralist sociology of research donations, and suggest that a 'sociology of research contributions' might better capture this complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the original publication of the article, the second author's affiliation was published incorrectly and the correct affiliation is given in this correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the paper is to examine how those working in, using and regulating assisted conception clinics discussed infertility counselling and its provision within the context of embryo donation and in vitro fertilisation.Method: 35 participants were recruited for semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. All data were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: The thematic analysis revealed recurring themes based upon the portrayals of infertility counselling, embryo donation and in vitro fertilisation.Conclusions: This paper suggests that an implicit hierarchy exists around those using assisted conception techniques and their infertility counselling requirements, which was dependent upon the assisted conception technique used. As a result, some people using assisted conception techniques felt that their needs had been overlooked due to this covert hierarchy.Practice Implications: Those working in, using or regulating assisted conception clinics should not view infertility counselling as restricted to treatments involving donation, or solely for people within the clinical system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]