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Ask Fellow Optoms

Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction

Welcome to Ask Fellow Optoms. These Terms and Conditions govern your use of our Platform and the services provided. By using this Platform, you agree to comply with and be bound by these terms. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Platform.

Ask Fellow Optoms is a professional peer-to-peer communication platform that facilitates direct dialogue between optometric and ophthalmic professionals. The Platform is a neutral communication facilitator and does not create, validate, or endorse the professional opinions, advice, or clinical discussions shared by Users. Users communicate directly with one another; Ask Fellow Optoms merely provides the infrastructure through which this communication occurs.

The Platform may also support reflective learning and professional education as secondary functions. However, Ask Fellow Optoms is not an educational content provider, curriculum designer, or professional authority. All clinical discussions, advice, and educational materials on the Platform originate from User-to-User communication, not from Ask Fellow Optoms itself.

The Service does not constitute a clinical triage service, diagnostic service, medical advice service, or a medical referral pathway. Users must not rely on the Platform for the real-time management of urgent clinical cases or as a substitute for direct patient care, professional consultation, or established clinical pathways.

2. User Agreement

By downloading, accessing, or using Ask Fellow Optoms, you confirm that you are an eye care professional over the age of 17 and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy. If you do not meet these requirements, please refrain from using the Platform.

You affirm that you are genuinely the person you claim to be. You acknowledge that Ask Fellow Optoms is a communication platform and that all professional opinions, advice, case discussions, and clinical guidance you receive or provide originate from other Users, not from Ask Fellow Optoms. Ask Fellow Optoms does not endorse, verify, audit, or assume responsibility for the accuracy, safety, or appropriateness of any User-generated professional content.

All statements, representations, advice, or clinical opinions shared on the Platform are made by individual Users in their professional capacity and are not endorsed by or attributed to Ask Fellow Optoms.

3. Features and Use

3.1 Posting Feature

Users can post clinical or other relevant cases to clinical practice. Users are solely responsible for ensuring that all uploaded images are stripped of EXIF, GPS metadata, and any other identifiable information prior to upload. While the Platform employs automated sanitization tools, the User remains the 'Data Controller' for the point of upload and is liable for any identifiable patient data inadvertently shared. We reserve no liability for metadata breaches resulting from user error.

Users must always respect patient privacy and maintain anonymity in any text or images they share. By using the app you, as a user, have ensured that you have collected consent for any patient-related data you wish to share. When sharing content that involves a patient case you agree that you have informed the patient about how their information will be used, explained their right to object, obtained informed consent and ensured that the patient understands the implications. You therefore agree that the responsibility falls on the user to ensure patient confidentiality, privacy and anonymity is maintained. By using this feature, users understand and accept that the content is solely for communication and educational purposes and should not be relied upon for diagnosis or clinical management decisions. Users acknowledge that this is a learning tool and therefore in order for other professionals to give you the best learning experience, you should provide detailed information on any cases you are referring. Users should provide enough information to elicit a valid response and not treat the app as a diagnostic tool.

3.2 Messaging Feature

The Messaging Feature is the core communication function of the Platform. Users can communicate directly with each other via secure messaging to discuss clinical cases, seek peer input, share professional insights, and engage in professional dialogue.

Ask Fellow Optoms is a neutral communication facilitator and does not create, moderate, review, or endorse any messages or clinical discussions between Users. The Platform merely provides the infrastructure through which Users communicate directly with one another.

Users must always respect patient privacy and maintain anonymity in any text or images they share. By using the Platform you, as a user, have ensured that you have collected consent for any patient-related data you wish to share.

By using this feature, users understand and accept that all communication originates from other Users and not from Ask Fellow Optoms. Users are solely responsible for evaluating the professional quality and appropriateness of peer-provided information. User-to-User communication is for professional discussion purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for direct clinical consultation or established professional guidelines.

3.3 AI Guidance

This feature uses experimental Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate responses for academic comparison and reflective learning purposes only.

CRITICAL DISCLAIMER: AI-generated responses may be factually inaccurate, clinically dangerous, outdated, or based on incomplete training data. These outputs are Simulated Opinions provided for academic comparison only and must never be used as a basis for patient treatment, diagnosis, or clinical decision-making. Users acknowledge that AI systems can generate harmful, unsafe, or misleading medical information. Ask Fellow Optoms assumes no liability for any adverse outcomes, clinical errors, or patient harm arising from reliance on AI-generated content.

By using this feature, users understand and accept that the guidance provided is for educational purposes only and should not be used for clinical management or diagnosis decisions. Users are solely responsible for verifying any information against current clinical guidelines and their professional judgment.

3.4 CPD Activity and Evidence

When users share cases or participate in discussions on the Platform, Ask Fellow Optoms logs the duration and nature of engagement. Every 35 minutes of logged engagement counts towards 0.5 points of self-directed CPD. Users will be able to view and download evidence of their engagement activity.

ACCREDITATION DISCLAIMER: Ask Fellow Optoms is not an 'Accredited CPD Provider' unless explicitly stated in writing. The Platform provides evidence of User engagement in Self-Directed Reflective Learning and Professional Communication only. Ask Fellow Optoms does not accredit, validate, or guarantee the educational quality of peer-to-peer discussions on the Platform.

Users are solely responsible for: (i) justifying the relevance and quality of their engagement and learning activity to their respective professional regulator (including GOC or equivalent body); (ii) accurately documenting their participation; and (iii) ensuring that their CPD claim complies with their regulator's standards. Ask Fellow Optoms assumes no liability if a professional regulatory body rejects, discounts, or refuses to recognize CPD evidence submitted from this Platform due to accreditation status, quality standards, or lack of formal educational credentials.

Users understand that engagement evidence can be used for self-directed CPD only. Only a maximum of 5 minutes of CPD activity will be allocated per case. When uploading evidence on the professional body portal, users must declare that this is 'self-directed' activity based on peer communication and professional discussion facilitated by the Platform.

On the relevant professional body website, users may be asked to include a reflection statement in addition to the evidence upload. It is the user's responsibility to complete any such reflection to demonstrate how their engagement meets their learning outcomes.

As a user, you are responsible for meeting all your continuous educational and regulatory requirements. You acknowledge that the Platform is a communication tool and will not rely on the Platform alone to meet your professional targets or regulatory obligations.

4. Regulatory Cooperation and Disclosure

Users are responsible for adhering to the General Optical Council (GOC) rules, General Dental Council (GDC) rules, and the College of Optometrists guidance when using Ask Fellow Optoms.

Ask Fellow Optoms reserves the right to disclose user activity, message logs, uploaded content, and account information to professional regulatory bodies (e.g., GOC, GDC, or equivalent), law enforcement, or legal authorities where a formal request is made in relation to a Fitness to Practise investigation, regulatory compliance inquiry, data breach, or legal proceeding. Users consent to this disclosure as a condition of using the Platform.

5. User Responsibilities

Users are responsible for the accuracy and legality of the content they post. Users must not use the app for any illegal or unauthorized purpose. Users agree to comply with all applicable laws regarding online conduct and content. By using this app, you agree that the professional registration number, such as GOC number, you provide is correct, valid, yours, active, and matches all your details on the relevant body register.

6. Prohibited Content and Conduct

Users are prohibited from posting or sharing content that is considered objectionable, including but not limited to:

  • Offensive, abusive, or hateful language or imagery
  • Harassment, bullying, or threatening behavior
  • Illegal activities or content
  • Sexually explicit material

We have a zero-tolerance policy for such content and behavior. Users found violating these terms will be subject to immediate action, including but not limited to:

  • Removal of the offending content
  • Temporary or permanent suspension of the user’s account
  • Reporting to relevant authorities if necessary

You agree to use the app to take advantage of the above features. Any content related to the advertising of other third party applications or tools are strictly prohibited unless otherwise approved by us.

7. Intellectual Property Rights

All Platform technology, design, branding, logos, and software infrastructure are the property of Ask Fellow Optoms or its technology suppliers and are protected by intellectual property laws.

Users retain full ownership of all professional opinions, case discussions, clinical advice, and other substantive content they post or communicate on the Platform. Ask Fellow Optoms is a communication facilitator and does not claim ownership of User-generated professional content. Users grant Ask Fellow Optoms a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license limited solely to: (i) hosting and transmitting User content between Users on the Platform; (ii) creating backups and ensuring Platform reliability; and (iii) generating anonymized engagement statistics for CPD tracking purposes. Ask Fellow Optoms does not have the right to publish, distribute, or commercialize User-generated professional content except as necessary to operate the communication Platform itself.

8. Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. By using the app, you consent to the collection and use of your information as outlined in the Privacy Policy.

9. Account Suspension and Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate user accounts at our discretion, especially in cases of violations of these Terms and Conditions.

10. Amendments to Terms

We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Continued use of the app after any such changes shall constitute your consent to such changes. Users are encouraged to review these terms periodically.

11. Limitation of Liability and Role of Ask Fellow Optoms

Ask Fellow Optoms is a professional peer-to-peer communication platform and communication facilitator. It is not a medical device, healthcare provider, clinical advisor, or educational content provider. All clinical discussions, advice, professional opinions, and educational materials on the Platform originate from User-to-User communication, not from Ask Fellow Optoms.

Ask Fellow Optoms assumes no responsibility for: (i) the accuracy, safety, appropriateness, or legality of any User-generated professional content; (ii) any clinical decisions made by Users based on peer communication on the Platform; (iii) any adverse patient outcomes resulting from reliance on information shared between Users; or (iv) the professional qualifications or competence of other Users.

Users must rely on their own professional judgment, current clinical guidelines, and established professional standards when evaluating any information discussed on the Platform. Users are solely responsible for assessing the credibility and applicability of peer-provided input to their own professional practice.

In no event shall Ask Fellow Optoms be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from (i) your use or inability to use the Platform; (ii) reliance on any User-generated content; (iii) communication failures or service interruptions; or (iv) any unauthorized access to or use of our servers and/or any personal information stored therein.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Ask Fellow Optoms and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees) arising from:

  • Your use of and access to the app.
  • Your violation of any term of these Terms and Conditions.
  • Your violation of any third-party right, including without limitation any copyright, property, or privacy right.

13. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

14. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms and Conditions or the use of Ask Fellow Optoms shall be resolved through binding arbitration in the United Kingdom, except that either party may bring a claim for injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us at info@askfellowclinicians.com.

By using Ask Fellow Optoms, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.