Website User Agreement


Welcome to Lifespan.org!

NOTE: Our social media and patient privacy policies can be found at these addresses:

About our site

Lifespan provides complimentary Internet-based communications and general health information to consumers on this site (the "Lifespan.org website" or the "Site"). DO NOT USE THIS SITE FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICES. CALL 911 OR YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE NUMBER. Use of this site implies knowledge of the terms and conditions outlined below.

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS SITE. By using this site, you agree to these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to all of the Terms and Conditions of this Agreement, do NOT use this site. These Terms and Conditions may be revised and updated at any time. Please periodically review the Terms and Conditions because your continued usage of this site will mean that you accept those changes.

We respect your privacy interests and so operate by these principles:

You may use the Lifespan ("Lifespan") web site without disclosing personally identifiable information. We want to be clear that we will not obtain such information about you unless you choose to submit it to us. For example, by emailing us you comments or suggestions, that identifies you email address.

We have taken reasonable steps to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of personally identifiable information that you may provide. You should understand, however, that electronic transmissions via the Internet are not necessarily secure from interception and so we cannot guarantee the security or confidentiality of such transmissions.

Web Log Data

The web server of Lifespan collects and saves default information customarily logged by world wide web server software. Our logs contain the following information for each request: date and time, originating IP address and domain name (the unique address assigned to your Internet service provider's computer that connects to the Internet), object requested, and completion status of the request. We use these logs to help improve our service by evaluating the "traffic" to our site in terms of number of unique visitors, level of demand, most popular page requests, and types of errors.

These logs may be kept for an indefinite amount of time, used at any time and in any way necessary to prevent security breaches and to ensure the integrity of the data on our servers.

Lifespan also uses Google Analytics, an external analytics software program, to analyze site traffic. For more information about Google Analytics, how it works, and Google's security practices, please visit http://www.google.com/privacy.html.

Except for authorized law enforcement investigations or other facially valid legal processes, we will not share any information we receive with outside parties.

1. Disclaimers about Content and our Health Care Professionals.

Content

The content of the Lifespan.org website is provided for general information only and is not intended in any way to substitute for professional medical advice. Neither the content nor any other service offered through the Lifespan Web site is intended to be relied upon for medical diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional if you have any concern about your health. Users are encouraged to develop a professional relationship with physicians and other medical practitioners and regularly consult with them and seek their advice.

Our Health Professionals

Lifespan's Physician Chats and Forums are conducted by physicians and other medical practitioners who have privileges at Lifespan hospitals. By providing this service, none of our physicians and professionals is entering into a physician-patient relationship with you. Our professionals do not diagnose, treat, or prescribe for anyone using our Site. Our professionals will not accept payment from you and will not bill any insurance company, government payment program or other source of health benefits for information provided on our Site.

No Liability for Content

Lifespan does not assume any liability for the contents of any material provided on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by Lifespan, its Health Professionals, or other visitors to the Site is solely at your own risk. Lifespan assumes no liability or responsibility for damage or injury to persons or property arising from any use of any information, idea, or instruction contained in, or any test, product, or procedure discussed on this Site.

No Warranties

INFORMATION SUPPLIED ON THE Lifespan Web site IS "AS IS" AND NEITHER Lifespan NOR ANY OF OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO THE CONTENTS OF THIS SITE OR THIRD PARTY SITES LINKED TO THIS SITE AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, COMPLETENESS, TIMELINESS, CORRECTNESS, NONINFRINGEMENT, OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR USE, APPLICATION OR PURPOSE.

YOU AGREE TO HOLD HARMLESS AND WAIVE VOLUNTARILY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY ANY LIABILITY OF Lifespan AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS, INCLUDING HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, FOR ANY DAMAGES, CLAIMS, DEMANDS OR CAUSES OF ACTION, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE, AS A RESULT OF YOUR USE OF THIS Web site OR ANY INFORMATION YOU OBTAIN ON IT OR THAT RESULT FROM MISTAKES, OMISSIONS, INTERRUPTIONS OR DELETIONS OF FILES, ERRORS OR DEFECTS IN THE Lifespan Web site CONTENT, OR FAILURE OF PERFORMANCE.

If you are dissatisfied with any Lifespan Web site content, your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue using such content.

2. Information from You, from Others, and from Us.

Information from You

Please do not share personal medical information that you wish to keep confidential. Information you provide is not protected under confidentiality laws that protect physician-patient communications. In addition, while Lifespan attempts to prevent unauthorized access to our Web site files, such access may occur. In addition, our physicians do not keep any records of their communications on our Web site and will not have any records of any prior contacts you may have had with our Site.

We respect your personal privacy and will not release your name or email address without your consent. Lifespan does not sell personal medical information and will not disclose any personal medical information which identifies any person who uses our Site. However, we have the right to use any questions, comments, or other information submitted by users and aggregate health information in research, articles, books, commentaries, promotions or other similar ways. Lifespan may use your information to operate the Site or as required by law.

You agree not to post any information which (a) is libelous, defamatory, obscene, fraudulent, false or contrary to the ownership or intellectual property rights of any other person, or (b) contains any virus, worm, Trojan horse or other code which is contaminating or destructive to the files or programs of Lifespan or any of our users.

Lifespan may deny you access to all or part of the Lifespan Web site if Lifespan, in its sole discretion, determines that you have engaged in conduct which violates the law or the terms of this Agreement.

Information from Others

The Lifespan Web site provides links and pointers to other sites on the Internet, including links to sites sponsored by our physicians ("third party sites"). Lifespan has not investigated the content of information provided on third party sites and does not warrant the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information or the performance of those sites.

Lifespan is not responsible for the content of information on third party sites. Our inclusion of these links does not imply any endorsement of the material on such Web sites or any association with their operators.

Our Information

Our Health Professionals strive to provide valuable general health information, but Lifespan cannot assure that this information is exhaustive or complete or that it includes the most recent information on any particular topic.

You should review any information supplied on this Web site with your own personal physician. Never delay, ignore or fail to obtain medical advice based upon information on the Lifespan Web site. We cannot guarantee or warrant that our information will be without errors, omissions, delays or other defects or that files are free of viruses, worms, or other harmful components.

3. Copyright and Trademark

All text and images on the Lifespan Web site are owned or licensed by Lifespan and are protected by copyright. The name "Lifespan" and the logo are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Lifespan. You have been granted a license to view and use the Lifespan materials subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

You may download and copy one copy of Lifespan materials for your own non-commercial home use, provided that you keep all copyright, service mark and other proprietary notices. You may not sell or modify Lifespan materials or reproduce, display publicly or otherwise use the Lifespan materials in any way for any public or commercial purpose. Permission to reprint or electronically reproduce any document or graphic, in whole or in part, for any other purpose is expressly prohibited without prior written consent from Lifespan.

You may contact us at The Coro Building, Attn. Manager of Internet Communications, 167 Point Street, Suite 2C, Providence, RI 02903.

Users may not provide copyrighted or other proprietary information to Lifespan without permission from the owner of such material or rights. Users are solely responsible for obtaining such permission and for any damages resulting from unauthorized disclosures.

4. Discussion Group Rules

You are responsible for materials you send to "discussion" groups that may be available to others.

5. Miscellaneous

This Agreement will for all purposes be governed, interpreted, and enforced under the laws of the State of Rhode Island. You agree that the courts located in the State of Rhode Island will constitute the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any and all disputes and you hereby consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and irrevocably waive any objections thereto. Any cause of action or claim you have with respect to this Site must be commenced within one (1) year after the claim or cause of action arises or such claim or cause of action is barred. If any clause or provision of this Agreement is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or future law, then, in that event, such clause or provision will be severed from this Agreement without affecting the enforceability of all remaining clauses and provisions.

You acknowledge that the Terms and Conditions, including the disclaimers, in this Agreement are fair and reasonable and that your agreement to follow and be bound to them is not the result of fraud, duress or undue influence exercised upon you by any person or entity. By continuing to use this site you acknowledge that you have reviewed and agree to all of the Terms and Conditions.

Contact Information

Contact us for more information about our websites and their terms of use by email at webteam@lifespan.org or by phone at 401-444-5327, or address your concerns in writing to:

Lifespan Marketing and Communications
Attn: Web Manager
117 Ellenfield Street, Suite 100
Providence, RI, 02905