1. Introduction Read First
Welcome to CareHinge ("we," "us," "our," or the "Platform"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our telemedicine platform, website, mobile application, and related services (collectively, the "Services"). CareHinge is operated by CareHinge Limited, a company registered in Nigeria.
By accessing or using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Services. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and CareHinge.
📋 Important Note: CareHinge is a telemedicine platform that connects patients with licensed medical doctors. We use artificial intelligence ("AI") to assist with symptom triage and preliminary assessment. However, all final medical decisions, diagnoses, and prescriptions are made by licensed doctors, not by AI.
2. Emergency Disclaimer ⚠️
🚨 FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, DO NOT USE THIS PLATFORM.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening condition, severe bleeding, chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or any other medical emergency, call your local emergency services immediately (Nigeria: 112) or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
CareHinge is not a substitute for emergency medical care. Our doctors and AI assistants cannot respond to emergencies in real-time. You acknowledge that using our Services during a medical emergency may result in delayed care and serious harm. We are not liable for any injury or loss resulting from your failure to seek emergency medical attention.
3. AI Triage & Symptom Analysis 🤖
CareHinge uses artificial intelligence ("AI") to assist in the initial triage process. The AI features include:
- Symptom Collection: The AI asks structured questions to gather information about your symptoms, medical history, and current condition.
- Urgency Assessment: The AI analyzes your responses to suggest an urgency level (Low, Medium, High, Emergency).
- Doctor Matching: The AI helps route you to appropriate doctors based on specialty and availability.
Limitations of AI: You acknowledge that:
- AI is not a substitute for professional medical judgment.
- AI outputs may be incomplete or inaccurate.
- AI cannot account for all individual medical circumstances.
- AI does not have access to your complete medical history or physical examination findings.
All AI-generated assessments are reviewed by licensed doctors before any medical decision is made. You should never rely solely on AI output for medical decisions.
4. Doctor Review & Approval 👨⚕️
Human-in-the-Loop Guarantee: CareHinge operates on a "human-in-the-loop" model. This means:
- Every AI-generated assessment, diagnosis suggestion, and prescription draft is reviewed by a licensed, MDCN-registered doctor.
- No diagnosis, treatment plan, or prescription is communicated to any patient without explicit doctor approval.
- Doctors have the final authority to accept, modify, or reject any AI suggestion.
Doctor Verification: All doctors on CareHinge are:
- Licensed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
- Verified through their Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) or affiliated healthcare institution.
- Subject to credential verification before being permitted to consult patients.
👨⚕️ Medical Relationship: When you consult a doctor through CareHinge, you establish a doctor-patient relationship with that specific doctor. The doctor is responsible for your medical care during that consultation. CareHinge facilitates the connection but does not practice medicine.
5. Digital Prescriptions 💊
CareHinge allows doctors to issue digital prescriptions that are:
- Structurally formatted with drug names, dosage, frequency, and duration.
- Delivered to you via the platform and WhatsApp.
- Signed and approved by the consulting doctor.
Important Prescription Disclaimers:
- Digital prescriptions are valid only when issued by a licensed doctor on the platform.
- You are responsible for filling prescriptions at licensed pharmacies.
- Do not take medication without proper medical supervision.
- You must disclose all existing medications, allergies, and medical conditions to your doctor.
⚠️ Medication Safety: If you experience any adverse reaction to prescribed medication, stop taking it immediately and seek emergency medical care. Report any adverse effects to your prescribing doctor.
6. Fees & Payments 💰
Consultation Fees: Doctors set their own consultation fees. You will see the fee before confirming a consultation. Fees are displayed in Nigerian Naira (₦).
Payment Methods: We accept payments via:
- Paystack (cards, bank transfers, USSD)
- Corporate wallet payments for organizations
Refund Policy:
- If a doctor is unable to provide a consultation after payment, you will receive a full refund.
- If you cancel a consultation before it begins, you may be eligible for a refund (less platform fees).
- Completed consultations are generally non-refundable unless there is a verified service failure.
- For refund requests, contact support within 7 days of the consultation.
Corporate Plans: Organizations may purchase health bundles for their employees. Separate terms apply to corporate subscriptions.
7. Data & Privacy 🔒
Your privacy is critically important to us. Our data handling practices include:
- All medical information is encrypted and stored securely.
- We comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023.
- We do not share your personal health information with third parties without your consent, except as required by law.
- Consultations are confidential between you and your doctor.
- Anonymized data may be used to improve our AI systems.
For complete details, please review our separate Privacy Policy.
📁 Your Data Rights: Under Nigerian law, you have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data. Contact our Data Protection Officer at carehinge@gmail.com for such requests.
8. Limitation of Liability ⚖️
Medical Disclaimer: CareHinge is a technology platform that facilitates connections between patients and doctors. We do not practice medicine, provide medical advice, or make diagnoses. The doctors on our platform are independent professionals.
Limitation of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by Nigerian law:
- CareHinge (CareHinge Limited) shall not be liable for any professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prescription provided by doctors on the platform.
- We are not responsible for any adverse outcomes resulting from your use of the platform, including but not limited to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, medication errors, or allergic reactions.
- Our total liability to you shall not exceed the amount you paid for the specific consultation giving rise to the claim.
- We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.
No Warranty: The platform is provided "as is" without warranties of uninterrupted availability, error-free operation, or fitness for a particular purpose.
9. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution ⚖️
Governing Law: These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Dispute Resolution Process:
- Informal Resolution: Contact us at carehinge@gmail.com to attempt resolution within 30 days.
- Mediation: If informal resolution fails, disputes may be referred to mediation through the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) or similar body.
- Arbitration: If mediation fails, disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Cap A18, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
🏛️ Regulatory Compliance: CareHinge operates in compliance with applicable Nigerian healthcare regulations, including guidelines from the Federal Ministry of Health and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
10. Additional Provisions
User Responsibilities: You agree to:
- Provide accurate, complete, and truthful information about your health.
- Disclose all relevant medical history, allergies, and current medications.
- Not misuse the platform or attempt to bypass doctor review.
- Not share your account credentials with others.
- Comply with all applicable laws.
Account Suspension: We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account for violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or abuse of our services.
Modifications to Terms: We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be notified via email or platform notification. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
Contact Us: For questions about these Terms, please contact us at:
- Email: carehinge@gmail.com
- Address: CareHinge Limited, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria