This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.
The commitment to reliable health and medical information on the internet
HON was founded to encourage the dissemination of quality health information for patients and professionals and the general public, and to facilitate access to the latest and most relevant medical data through the use of the internet.
The HONcode certification is an ethical standard aimed at offering quality health information. It demonstrates the intent of a website to publish transparent information. The transparency of the website will improve the usefulness and objectivity of the information and the publishment of correct data.
The HONcode is a code of ethics that guides site managers in setting up a minimum set of mechanisms to provide quality, objective and transparent medical information tailored to the needs of the audience.
Sites applying for certification and sites already certified undertake to respect the HONcode and the requirements for certification.
HON cannot guarantee the accuracy of medical information presented by a site and its completeness at any given time, but possession of the HONcode seal allows a site to demonstrate its intention to contribute to quality medical information through the publishment of objective and transparent information.
HONcode is the oldest and the most used ethical and trustworthy code for medical and health related information available on Internet.The HONcode is designed for three target audiences: the general public, the health professionals and the web publisher, actively involving the site owner in the process of certification.
The HON Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization, internationally known for its pioneering work in the field of health information ethics, notably for the establishment of its code of ethical conduct, the HONcode.
Regular monitoring:
A certified site receives a check-up visit periodically, beginning one year after the initial certification, following a complaint, technical malfunction detected by our monitoring services.
In addition to the annual review we rely heavily on user vigilance to report alleged non-compliance with the HONcode, as we cannot cover the entire Web. Many alerts come to us from sharp-eyed surfers motivated by civic responsibility. We applaud and encourage these alerts as a vital component of self-regulation and as a contribution to our work.
What is the HONcode certification?
The HONcode: Principles
- Principle 1 Authority Give qualifications of authors
- Principle 2
Complementarity
Information to support, not replace
- Principle 3
Confidentiality
Respect the privacy of site users
- Principle 4
Attribution
Cite the sources and dates of medical information
- Principle 5
Justifiability
Justification of claims / balanced and objective claims
- Principle 6
Transparency
Accessibility, provide valid contact details
- Principle 7
Financial disclosure
Provide details of funding
- Principle 8
Advertising
Clearly distinguish advertising from editorial content
For more information on the HONcode certification process please visit:
http://www.hon.ch/HONcode/Conduct.html