Terms & Conditions of Use

1. Introduction & acceptance

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) apply to your use of websites, portals and online services operated by the National Society of Medicine (“NSM”, “we”, “us” or “our”), including nsmedicine.org and associated domains.

By accessing or using our websites, creating a user account, registering for an event, accessing education, or interacting with NSM digital services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use NSM online services.

These Terms are intended for use by health professionals, institutions, and partners engaging with NSM in an academic and professional context. They do not change any rights or obligations under applicable law.

2. Definitions

For clarity, the following terms are used consistently in this document:

Key defined terms

• “Services” means NSM websites, member portals, learning platforms, event systems, research portals and related digital tools.
• “Content” means text, guidelines, educational materials, graphics, audio-visual material, data and other information provided through the Services.
• “User” or “you” means any individual or institution that accesses or uses the Services.
• “Member” means any person or institution formally recognized by NSM under an active membership category (e.g. Fellow, Full, Associate, Institutional).
• “Portal Account” means a user account registered in an NSM digital system (e.g. membership portal, event portal).

3. Scope of services

NSM operates as an independent 501(c)(3) academic nonprofit. Our Services are designed to support professional education, guideline dissemination, research collaboration and membership engagement.

3.1 Educational and informational nature

NSM Content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnostic guidance, or treatment directives for specific patients. Clinical decisions must be made in accordance with local regulations, institutional policies, and the professional judgement of qualified healthcare professionals.

3.2 No patient-specific relationship

Use of the Services does not create a physician–patient or other clinical care relationship between NSM, its contributors, and any individual patient. NSM does not provide individualized clinical care or emergency services.

3.3 Geographic and regulatory considerations

Users are responsible for ensuring that use of the Services complies with applicable laws, regulations and professional standards in their jurisdiction, including restrictions on cross-border provision of information and use of medical titles or credentials.

4. Membership & accounts

Membership in NSM, and creation of Portal Accounts, is subject to eligibility criteria, review processes and ongoing professional standards.

4.1 Eligibility and application

• Membership categories, eligibility and application processes are described in NSM membership documentation.
• You must provide accurate, current and complete information during application and keep it updated.
• NSM may request supporting documentation (e.g. proof of licensure, training, institutional affiliation).

4.2 Account security

• You are responsible for safeguarding your login credentials and for all activities under your account.
• You agree to notify NSM promptly of any suspected unauthorized use or security incident.
• NSM may require multi-factor authentication or other security measures where appropriate.

4.3 Suspension or termination

NSM reserves the right, consistent with its governance and ethics policies, to suspend, restrict or terminate access to the Services or membership in case of suspected misuse, misrepresentation, professional misconduct or breach of these Terms, subject to appropriate review and appeal procedures.

5. Events, CME & education

NSM organizes congresses, courses, webinars and other educational activities, some of which may provide continuing medical education (CME) or equivalent credits through accredited partners.

5.1 Registration and attendance

• Registration may be subject to eligibility criteria, capacity limits and payment of applicable fees.
• Specific event terms (agenda, language, technical requirements) will be communicated during registration.
• NSM may adjust formats (e.g. in-person to virtual) where necessary for safety or regulatory reasons.

5.2 CME and certificates

• CME or equivalent credits are provided in collaboration with accredited bodies where applicable.
• Recognition of credits is determined by local regulators and institutions, not by NSM alone.
• Participants are responsible for retaining certificates and complying with local reporting rules.

5.3 Recordings and materials

Events may be recorded for educational use, quality review or archival purposes. By participating, you may be included in such recordings (for example, in Q&A), subject to applicable privacy notices. Redistribution of recordings or materials may be restricted by copyright and licensing terms.

6. Research & data contributions

NSM may operate research registries, collaborative studies and data-sharing initiatives to support academic and quality-improvement work.

6.1 Research governance

Participation in NSM research activities is governed by study-specific protocols, data-use agreements and, where applicable, institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee approvals.

6.2 Data accuracy and lawful submission

• You confirm that data you submit is accurate to the best of your knowledge and lawfully collected.
• You must ensure that appropriate consents, approvals or anonymization procedures are in place.

6.3 De-identification and re-identification

NSM applies standardized de-identification and access controls. Intentional re-identification of individuals without authorization is strictly prohibited and may lead to exclusion from NSM activities and additional legal remedies where applicable.

7. Donations & payments

NSM may receive donations and charge fees for certain memberships, events or services, consistent with its 501(c)(3) charitable and academic status.

7.1 Fees and pricing

• Applicable fees and currency options are presented at the time of purchase or registration.
• NSM reserves the right to adjust fees over time, with changes taking effect prospectively.

7.2 Donations

Donations support NSM’s academic and educational mission. Where relevant, NSM may provide acknowledgement letters. Tax treatment of donations is determined by applicable law and the donor’s jurisdiction; donors should seek independent tax advice.

7.3 Refunds

Refund rules for memberships and events are outlined in specific service descriptions or policies. Duplicate or erroneous payments will be reviewed by the Secretariat and, if verified, refunded to the original payment method subject to banking timelines.

8. Intellectual property

NSM Content is protected by copyright, trademark and other laws. Appropriate use of NSM materials is essential to preserve academic integrity and brand clarity.

8.1 Ownership

Unless otherwise indicated, NSM (or its licensors) owns all rights in the Content, including texts, graphics, logos, publications, course materials and digital assets.

8.2 Permitted use

• You may access and view Content for personal, educational and non-commercial professional purposes.
• Limited quotation with proper citation may be permitted in academic work where consistent with fair-use or equivalent concepts.

8.3 Prohibited use

• Systematic reproduction, distribution, resale or commercial exploitation of Content without prior written permission.
• Altering or misrepresenting NSM logos, badges or marks, including Fellows’ insignia or membership badges.

9. Acceptable use & conduct

NSM expects users to uphold high professional and ethical standards when interacting with the Services and with other participants.

9.1 Prohibited behaviours

• Using the Services for unlawful purposes or in violation of clinical or professional regulations.
• Harassing, threatening, or discriminating against other users or NSM personnel.
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to systems, data or accounts.
• Introducing malware, or interfering with the integrity or performance of the Services.

9.2 Enforcement

NSM may investigate suspected violations and take proportionate actions, which may include warnings, content removal, temporary suspension, or access termination, in alignment with governance and ethics policies.

10. Disclaimers & limitation of liability

NSM provides its Services on an academic and educational basis and does not guarantee specific outcomes.

10.1 No warranty

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, NSM provides the Services “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied or statutory, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

10.2 Limitation of liability

To the extent permitted by law, NSM and its officers, directors, staff, volunteers and contributors shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or in connection with your use of the Services. Where liability cannot be excluded, it will be limited to the amount paid (if any) by you for the relevant Service in the preceding twelve (12) months.

11. Privacy & data protection

NSM is committed to responsible handling of personal data. Additional details are provided in our Privacy Notice, which complements these Terms.

By using the Services, you acknowledge that NSM may process personal data consistent with applicable law and the purposes described in its Privacy Notice. This may include account administration, event management, research governance, security monitoring and communications.

For information on data subject rights, retention periods and data-sharing arrangements, please refer to the NSM Privacy Notice or contact the Secretariat at [email protected].

12. Changes to these Terms

NSM may update these Terms periodically to reflect legal, regulatory or operational developments.

When changes are material, NSM will provide reasonable notice, which may include posting a notice on nsmedicine.org, updating the effective date, or contacting registered users via email or portal notifications. Continued use of the Services after the effective date of updated Terms constitutes acceptance of those changes.

13. Governing law & dispute resolution

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, USA, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Where permitted by applicable law, disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall first be addressed through good-faith discussions. If not resolved, disputes may be brought before the competent courts located in the District of Columbia, USA, unless a different forum is required by mandatory law.

14. Contact information

If you have questions about these Terms or about the use of NSM Services, please contact the Secretariat.

National Society of Medicine
1717 N Street NW STE 1
Washington DC 20036, USA

Secretariat (general): [email protected]
Legal & governance: [email protected]
Website: https://nsmedicine.org