Please read this document carefully to understand the nature of our platform, the scope of services provided, and your rights and responsibilities before proceeding with any telehealth, second medical opinion, or virtual care services.
1.Platform Identity & Separation of Liability
BookTeleMed.com is a digital health technology platform developed and operated by Healthy Cosmos® Private Limited. Healthy Cosmos® is strictly an information technology, digital services, and medical tourism facilitation company.
- We Are Not a Healthcare Provider: Healthy Cosmos® does not practice medicine, provide medical advice, or employ physicians.
- Independent Practitioners: All healthcare, diagnostic, and medical consultation services accessed through our platform are provided exclusively by independent, registered, and licensed medical professionals (Super Specialists) utilizing our secure IT infrastructure. Healthy Cosmos® bears no liability for the medical advice, clinical outcomes, or professional negligence of these independent healthcare providers.
2. Voluntary Participation & Expressed Consent
By utilizing BookTeleMed.com, you acknowledge and agree that all consultations are voluntarily chosen by the patient (or their legal guardian) with their expressed consent, after a careful consideration of the service limitations, our platform’s role, and their local healthcare regulations.
- You have the absolute right to choose whether or not to participate in these virtual services, and you may discontinue your use of the platform at any time without penalty.
3. Scope of Services: Informational Second Opinions
To bridge global healthcare gaps, our platform connects patients globally with renowned Super Specialists (including Oncologists, Neurologists, Cardiologists, Endocrinologists, and more) located in India.
- Supplemental Care: Our telehealth services are strictly intended to provide expert second medical opinions, informational insights, and disease management guidance. They are designed to supplement, assist, and provide added value to the care you currently receive.
- Not a Replacement for Primary Care: Our services do not replace the existing relationship you have with your local, primary healthcare provider.
- Not for Emergencies: Telehealth has inherent limitations and cannot replace all in-person physical examinations. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, you must immediately contact your local emergency services or visit the nearest hospital.
4. Cross-Border Compliance, Treatments, & Prescriptions
Patients seeking cross-border medical consultations must fully understand the regulatory limitations of their home country or local jurisdiction.
- Jurisdiction of Practice: The medical professionals on this platform are licensed to practice medicine in India. Any medical opinion provided is rendered under Indian medical jurisdiction.
- Prescriptions: Any prescription generated by a healthcare provider during a consultation is legally valid only within the jurisdiction of India. BookTeleMed.com cannot legally ship or facilitate the importation of prescription medications to countries like the USA, Canada, or Australia. You are strongly encouraged to share the consultation reports with your local, locally-licensed healthcare practitioner to procure any recommended treatments or equivalent generic medications within your home country.
5. Qualifications of Healthcare Providers
We provide access to a vast network of highly qualified medical specialists.
- Verified Credentials: The qualifications of the healthcare providers on our platform meet the rigorous standards set by the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India and respective state medical councils.
- Global Acclaim: In addition to their primary medical and surgical degrees, many of these providers hold advanced super-specializations, board certifications from international organizations, and fellowships from prestigious international medical societies. They are highly sought after globally for successfully managing complex and rare medical conditions.
6. Medical Records, Privacy, & Security
We take the privacy, security, and confidentiality of your personal and protected health information (PHI) very seriously.
- Data Security: We implement robust, industry-standard digital security measures (including encryption and secure video conferencing) to protect your data during and after your telehealth visit.
- Access to Records: You have the right to access, manage, and request copies of your medical records and consultation history at any time by logging into your secure BookTeleMed.com patient portal.
- (For complete details on data handling, retention, and your privacy rights, please review our comprehensive Privacy Policy).
7. Financial Disclosures & Insurance
- Transparent Pricing: All costs and plans associated with our telehealth services are clearly published on our Pricing Page and will be fully disclosed to you prior to booking a consultation.
- Out-of-Pocket Payments: At this time, BookTeleMed.com does not accept or process direct billing for medical insurance (including Medicare, Medicaid, or provincial health plans). All services are cash-pay. We will provide you with a detailed, itemized receipt that you may independently submit to your private insurance provider or health savings account for potential out-of-network reimbursement; however, we make no guarantees regarding insurance coverage.
8. Limitation of Liability & Dispute Resolution
By using this platform, you agree that any disputes arising from the use of the technology platform itself (Healthy Cosmos® Private Limited) shall be resolved through binding arbitration, capping the platform’s financial liability to the total amount paid by the user for the specific service in dispute.
Strategic Notes for Implementation:
- Bold the Voluntary Consent: Keep the text in Section 2 bolded on your actual website. This demonstrates to regulators and legal challengers that the patient was completely aware of their choices.
- Footer Link: Ensure “Disclosures and Disclaimers” remains a permanent link in the footer of every single page on the website, right next to your Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
- Check-Box Integration: When a patient creates a new account or books an appointment, you should have a mandatory checkbox that states: “I have read, understood, and agree to the Disclosures and Disclaimers, and I am voluntarily seeking this consultation.” linking directly to this page.
9. Patient Data Rights, Self-Management, and Record Retention
Healthy Cosmos® Private Limited empowers patients with total transparency and control over their health information, in strict alignment with global data privacy frameworks including Canada’s PIPEDA, the US HIPAA guidelines, and India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.
- Right to Access and Self-Manage: Through our secure digital portal (e.g., MedSafeRecords, https://login.booktelemed.com), patients or their authorized legal guardians have 24/7 access to self-manage their health profiles. You have the right to independently upload, view, edit, update, or download your personal medical history, diagnostic reports, and consultation summaries at any time.
- Right to Correction/Amendment: If you believe any personal or medical information stored on your profile is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to amend or update your self-uploaded data directly through your patient dashboard. For clinical notes generated by a healthcare provider, you may request an addendum or correction to the medical record by contacting our support team.
- Right to Deletion (Right to Erasure): You have the right to withdraw your consent for our services and request the deletion of your BookTeleMed.com user account and personal demographic data. You can initiate an account deletion request directly through your profile settings or by contacting our privacy officer at hello@booktelemed.com.
- Mandatory Medical Record Retention Exemptions: Please be explicitly aware that the “Right to Deletion” is not absolute in healthcare. Under the guidelines of the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India and international medical compliance standards, healthcare providers are legally mandated to retain formal clinical records, consultation notes, and second opinion reports for a statutory period (typically ranging from 5 to 7 years, depending on the jurisdiction and nature of the treatment). Therefore, if you request account deletion, Healthy Cosmos® and your treating Super Specialist will safely archive and retain these specific clinical records in a secure, encrypted, and non-accessible state solely to comply with medical legal retention laws.
*All patient consultations are voluntary with their expressed consent.
