Website Terms of Use

1. About these Terms

These Terms of Use ("Terms") apply to the website operated by [PRACTICE COMPANY NAME] ACN [ACN] / ABN [ABN] at [WEBSITE URL] ("Website").

In these Terms, "we", "us" and "the Practice" refer to [PRACTICE COMPANY NAME].

The Website provides information about the Practice, Dr Michael Taplin, appointments, locations, procedures, surgery and recovery, and patient resources.

These Terms govern use of the Website and its downloadable resources. They do not replace:

• the terms on which medical services are provided to an individual patient;
• informed consent discussions;
• hospital or day surgery admission terms;
• fee or billing arrangements;
• instructions provided directly by Dr Michael Taplin, an anaesthetist, a hospital, a nurse or another treating healthcare professional; or
• any rights or obligations that apply under law.

By using the Website, you agree to use it in accordance with these Terms.

2. General information only

Information on the Website is provided for general educational and practice-information purposes.

It is not personalised medical advice and is not intended to take into account every person's:

• medical history;
• diagnosis;
• procedure;
• medications;
• allergies;
• individual risks;
• recovery progress; or
• other personal circumstances.

You should not use Website information as a substitute for individual advice or instructions from your treating healthcare team.

If information on the Website differs from instructions given specifically to you by Dr Michael Taplin, your anaesthetist, hospital, nurse or other treating healthcare professional, follow the individual instructions given to you and contact the treating team if you are unsure.

Accessing the Website, reading a resource or downloading a document does not by itself create, alter or replace a doctor-patient relationship.

3. Emergencies and urgent medical concerns

The Website is not an emergency service and is not continuously monitored for urgent medical concerns.

If you or the person you are caring for needs urgent medical attention, call 000 or attend the nearest emergency department.

This includes circumstances such as:

• severe, persistent or uncontrolled bleeding after surgery;
• difficulty breathing;
• severe or rapidly worsening pain;
• collapse or loss of consciousness; or
• any other serious or rapidly deteriorating condition.

Do not wait for a Website response, email response or routine callback in an emergency.

4. Post-operative questions

The Practice may provide a post-operative contact service for patients who have recently undergone surgery.

Post-operative contact: [POST-OPERATIVE CONTACT NUMBER]
Hours / availability: [POST-OPERATIVE SERVICE HOURS AND INSTRUCTIONS]

The post-operative contact service is intended for non-emergency questions or concerns relating to recent care. It does not replace emergency medical services and should not be relied on where urgent assessment is required.

Details of the actual post-operative service, including after-hours arrangements, must be confirmed with the Practice before publication.

5. Appointments, referrals and enquiries

Appointments are currently arranged through the Practice's approved contact channels, with phone contact remaining the primary appointment route.

A referral is required in accordance with the Practice's current referral process.

At the date of these Terms:

• there is no patient login or patient portal;
• there is no online patient account; and
• the Website does not itself confirm or create an appointment.

The Practice may later introduce an enquiry form or appointment request form. If it does:

• submitting a form will not, by itself, mean that an appointment has been booked or confirmed;
• a submission will not mean that a referral has been clinically accepted or reviewed;
• the Practice may need to contact the person before any appointment is arranged; and
• appropriate privacy information and any additional conditions will be provided with the form.

Unless the Website expressly states otherwise, do not use general Website functions to send urgent medical information.

6. Surgery, recovery and medication information

Surgery and recovery information on the Website or in downloadable resources is intended to help patients, parents and carers understand common processes and practical considerations.

It may not cover every possible situation.

Procedure-specific instructions, fasting directions, medication instructions, pain-management plans, wound-care directions and return-to-activity advice must be followed as provided by the treating team.

Do not start, stop or change medication solely because of general Website information.

If you are uncertain about instructions provided for your own care, contact the Practice or relevant treating provider.

7. Educational scenarios, cartoons and social-story materials

The Practice may provide illustrated resources, cartoons, scenarios or social-story style materials for educational purposes.

These materials may be informed by:

• de-identified real-world patient experiences;
• broader experience within the Practice; and
• clinical research, investigation or professional experience.

To protect privacy and make the material broadly useful, details may be changed, combined, generalised or fictionalised.

Unless expressly stated otherwise:

• a scenario is not a record of one identifiable patient's treatment;
• it is not a testimonial or endorsement;
• it is not a promise that another patient will have the same experience;
• it is not a prediction of clinical outcome; and
• it does not replace individual medical advice.

8. Parents, carers and paediatric resources

The Website is not directed to children.

Resources concerning children's care are intended for parents and carers. A parent or carer may choose to use appropriate material, including illustrations or scenario-based resources, when preparing or supporting a child.

The Practice does not impose an "18+" restriction on access to general Website information, but adults remain responsible for deciding how parent/carer resources are used with a child.

9. Downloadable patient resources

The Website may make information sheets, preparation guides, recovery information and other documents available for download.

These resources are provided for use by the Practice's patients and, where relevant, their parents, guardians or carers.

A downloaded copy may become out of date after it has been saved or printed. The Website may later contain a newer version.

Where there is any uncertainty:

• check the current Website version;
• follow the most recent individual instructions provided by the treating team; or
• contact the Practice.

The Practice may update, replace or withdraw a resource at any time where appropriate.

10. Copyright and permitted use

Unless otherwise stated, Website content and Practice resources are owned by or licensed to [PRACTICE COMPANY NAME] and are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

Personal patient use

You may download, save and print Practice resources for:

• your own personal care;
• the care of your child or dependent; or
• your personal use as an authorised parent, guardian or carer.

You may show a resource to a healthcare professional in connection with your own care or the care of your child or dependent.

Uses requiring permission

Except where permitted by law or with our prior written permission, you must not:

• reproduce or republish Practice resources for professional, institutional or commercial use;
• distribute Practice resources as part of another medical practice, clinic, hospital, professional service, training program or commercial service;
• make Practice resources available for use by other doctors, healthcare professionals or professional agencies as their own patient material;
• remove copyright notices, Practice branding or document-control information;
• modify a Practice resource and distribute the modified version;
• sell, license or commercially exploit Website content or resources; or
• represent Practice content as your own material.

Dr Michael Taplin and authorised members of the Practice team may use Practice resources as part of their work for the Practice.

A healthcare professional seeing a resource as part of an individual patient's care does not obtain permission to reproduce or distribute that resource more broadly.

A particular document may contain additional copyright or permitted-use wording. Where it does, that document-specific wording also applies.

11. Accuracy and currency

We aim to keep Website information and published resources useful and current.

However, medical information, hospital arrangements, contact details, operating locations and administrative processes can change.

To the extent permitted by law, we do not guarantee that every item on the Website will always be:

• complete;
• error-free;
• current at every moment;
• suitable for every person's circumstances; or
• available without interruption.

Important appointment, surgery and care information should be confirmed against the instructions provided directly to you where necessary.

If you identify an apparent error, please contact the Practice.

12. Third-party websites, hospitals and Google Maps

The Website may contain information about or links to third parties, including:

• Google Maps;
• hospitals;
• day surgery facilities; and
• other healthcare providers involved in Dr Michael Taplin's practice.

Third-party services are operated independently of the Practice.

Maps, directions, parking details, hospital processes and other third-party information may change. You should check important information with the relevant provider where appropriate.

A link to, or identification of, a third party does not mean that the Practice controls that third party's website, systems, privacy practices or content.

Google Maps is subject to Google's own terms and privacy practices.

13. Website availability and security

We may change, suspend or withdraw Website content or functionality for maintenance, security, clinical review, operational reasons or other legitimate purposes.

We do not guarantee uninterrupted availability.

You must not:

• attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Website or protected Practice systems;
• interfere with Website security or operation;
• introduce malicious code;
• use the Website for unlawful, fraudulent or abusive purposes; or
• use automated means to extract or republish substantial Website content in breach of these Terms or applicable law.

14. Liability and rights that cannot be excluded

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any right, guarantee, remedy or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, including rights that may apply under the Australian Consumer Law.

Subject to those non-excludable rights, and to the extent permitted by law, the Practice is not responsible for loss arising solely from:

• treating general Website information as personalised medical advice;
• failing to follow individual instructions provided by a treating healthcare professional;
• relying on an outdated copy of a downloaded resource after a replacement has been published;
• relying on third-party maps, websites or information outside the Practice's control; or
• Website unavailability or technical interruption outside the Practice's reasonable control.

Nothing in this section limits liability where doing so would be unlawful.

15. Privacy

Our handling of personal information and health information is described in our Privacy Policy.

Read our Privacy Policy

The Website is not intended to be used as an uncontrolled channel for sending sensitive or urgent health information.

16. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time, including when:

• Website functions change;
• new forms or services are introduced;
• Practice resources or publication arrangements change; or
• legal or regulatory requirements change.

The current version will be published on the Website with its effective or review date.

17. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia and applicable Commonwealth laws.

Any dispute relating to these Terms or use of the Website is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts and tribunals competent to hear the matter, subject to any rights that apply under consumer or other applicable law.

18. Contact

[PRACTICE COMPANY NAME]
ACN: [ACN]
ABN: [ABN]
Postal address: [PRACTICE POSTAL ADDRESS]
Phone: [PRACTICE PHONE NUMBER]

For questions about the Website or these Terms, contact the Practice using the details above.