MEDiscuss Principles

MEDiscuss is HONcode certified. The following priciples are adapted from HONcode principles.

1. Authoritative
Any medical or health advice provided and hosted on MEDiscuss will only be given by medically trained and qualified professionals unless a clear statement is made that a piece of advice offered is from a non-medically qualified individual or organisation.

2. Complementarity
The information provided on MEDiscuss is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician.

3. Privacy
Confidentiality of data relating to individual patients and visitors to a medical/health Web site, including their identity, is respected by MEDiscuss. MEDiscuss owners undertake to honour or exceed the legal requirements of medical/health information privacy that apply in the country and state where MEDiscuss.org and mirror sites are located. Detailed privacy policy.

4. Attribution
Where appropriate, information contained on MEDiscuss will be supported by clear references to source data and, where possible, have specific HTML links to that data. The date when a clinical page was last modified will be clearly displayed (e.g. at the bottom of the page).

5. Justifiability
Any claims relating to the benefits/performance of a specific treatment, commercial product or service will be supported by appropriate, balanced evidence in the manner outlined above in Principle 4.

6. Transparency
MEDiscuss will seek to provide information in the clearest possible manner and provide contact addresses for visitors that seek further information or support. The Webmaster will display his/her E-mail address or contact form clearly throughout the Web site.

7. Financial disclosure
Support for MEDiscuss will be clearly identified, including the identities of commercial and non-commercial organisations that have contributed funding, services or material for the site.

8. Advertising policy
If advertising is a source of funding it will be clearly stated. A brief description of the advertising policy adopted by the MEDiscuss owners will be displayed on the site. Advertising and other promotional material will be presented to viewers in a manner and context that facilitates differentiation between it and the original material created by the institution operating the site.


If you notice any page not following any of these principles, please contact us.