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IHC Applications: Your Rights and
Responsibilities
The Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health (SciPICH)
believes that consumers have certain rights and responsibilities regarding interactive health communication (IHC). These issues form the
basis for several features offered on this Web site and suggest things you can look for
when considering the use or purchase of an IHC application or service. Visit the Resource Center to explore the topics and
recommendations listed below.
Your rights will include:
- Access to information about
choicethe right to have information about the range of alternative
consumer health support systems in addition to the one you currently are
considering.
- Information about evaluationthe
right to have detailed and timely information about how a product was developed and tested
for quality, and the credentials of its developers.
- Opportunity for testingthe
right to try out a developer's product before buying it to determine if it meets your
needs.
- Mechanisms for appeals and
grievancesthe right to know what recourse you have if a product is
misleading or deceptive, who to contact with complaints, and what groups or individuals
can help insure that such protection is available to you.
- Assurance of confidentiality
and privacythe right to receive confidentiality of personal
information collected by the application, be consulted prior to release of the information
for any use, know what kind of cyber security provisions are included in the program, and
know what risks this may create for you.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Buyer bewarethe responsibility to recognize the risks of using IHC applications
and services, to learn how to judge and select applications that are appropriate for you,
and to use the applications and services with a clear understanding of their limitations.
Ultimately, you must protect yourself and your family from potential harm by carefully
judging the validity of information and quality of the application or service before
buying or using it.


Source: The Science Panel on
Interactive Communication and Health, March 1998
Comments: SciPICH@health.org Updated:
05/01/08
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