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Your Privacy
The NeuroMedical Institute for Age Management adheres to the principles governing The American Medical Association (AMA) Web sites. The following guidelines have been adapted from the AMA "Guidelines for medical and health information sites on the Internet - Principles for Website Privacy and Confidentiality."
The following principles reflect the commitment of the NeuroMedical Institute for Age Management to maintain the Web site visitor's rights to privacy and the confidentiality of personal information. In this context, privacy refers to the right of the individual site visitor to choose whether to allow personal information to be collected, by the host site (in this case, The NeuroMedical Institute for Age Management) or by third parties, and to know what type of information is collected and how that information is used. Confidentiality is the right of an individual to not have personally identifiable medical or other information disclosed to others without that individual's express informed consent.
The Internet has the potential to allow information about Web site use to be tracked in aggregate (which can help site developers understand site use and improve the experience of the viewer) and at the individual user level. Individual user information can improve the visitor's experience of the site by permitting personalization of the site related to the individual's particular interests or concerns. However, tracking of personal medical and health information (ie, medical conditions, health-seeking behaviors and questions, and requests about drug therapies or medical devices or information pertaining to them) could breach an individual's personal privacy and reveal an individual's health data.
Thus, health and medical Web sites have a particular obligation to protect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals. Patients and individuals with interest in particular medical conditions should feel confident in obtaining information and using resources on the site, without concern that such use will be identified with them without their permission. All site visitors should have the opportunity to opt in or out of allowing personal information to be tracked. In addition, extensive measures have been taken to ensure the safety and security of Web site servers and to guard against divulging private information. Protection of patients' rights to confidentiality is fundamental to medical publishing.
Privacy
- The site will not collect names, e-mail addresses, or any other personal information unless voluntarily provided by the visitor after the visitor is informed about the potential use of such information.
- Names and e-mail addresses of site visitors will not be provided or released to a third party without the site visitor's express permission.
- E-mail information, personal information about specific visitor's access and navigation, and information volunteered by site visitors, such as survey information and site registration information, may be used by the site owner to improve the site but will not be shared with or sold to other organizations for commercial purposes without the site visitor's express permission.
- Non-identifiable Web site visitor data may be collected and used in aggregate to help shape and direct the creation and maintenance of content of the Web site. The AMA will not collect and will not allow third parties to collect personal medical information (medical conditions, health-seeking behaviors and questions, and use of or requests for information about drugs, therapies, or medical devices) without the express consent of the site visitor after explanation of the potential uses of such information.
- E-mail messages sent to a Web site may not be secure. Site visitors should be discouraged from sending confidential information by e-mail. Site visitors sending e-mail accept the risk that a third party may intercept e-mail messages.
- Market research conducted by the site or its agent to enhance the site will be clearly identified as such.
- E-mail alerts and newsletters will contain an "unsubscribe" option.
Confidentiality
Content published within this Web site that includes patient information adheres to the patient privacy and anonymity principles followed by JAMA and the Archives Journals, which are based on the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (http://jama.ama-assn.org/info/auinst_req.html). These principles apply equally to formal medical publications and the informal interactive communication permitted by the Web, including online discussion groups, chat rooms, or e-lists.
Patients should be aware when they provide information about their individual medical conditions in the context of such discussions that information may be linked with a personal identifier. However, the NeuroMedical Institute for Age Management will not collect information about individual medical conditions without the express permission of the site visitor. Physicians and other health care professionals should be aware that any patient information reported in the context of such venues must adhere to the confidentiality principles listed herein. Moderators of such sessions should make every effort to ensure that listed material adheres to the principles stated herein and, when in doubt, should query the individual providing the information. If the individual is a patient providing such information, the moderator should query the patient as to whether the patient intends for the sensitive medical information to be revealed. If the individual providing the information is a health care professional, the moderator should query the professional as to whether the patient reported has provided informed consent and state so.
Patients have a right to privacy that will not be infringed without express informed consent. Identifying patient information will not be published in print or online descriptions, photographs, or pedigrees (illustrations of how a disease is expressed within an extended family for purposes of determining possible inheritance) unless the information is essential for scientific purposes and the patient (or parent or guardian) gives express informed consent for publication.
Identifying details will be omitted if they are not essential, but patient data will never be altered or falsified in an attempt to attain anonymity. Complete anonymity is difficult to achieve, and informed consent will be obtained if there is any possibility as to whether identifiable information may be disclosed.
When express informed consent has been obtained, it will be indicated in the posted Web content.
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About the Institute
