Privacy Policy

Information We Collect and How We Use Information
This document sets out Dr. Michael Ayling’s policy in relation to the protection of personal information, as under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the "Act") and the Australian Privacy Principles ("APP"). The APPs regulate the handling of personal information.
‍
We collect the following personal information from you on Dr. Michael Ayling’s website and clinical pre-operative forms:
First and Last name
Email address
Phone number
Gender and Age
‍
Clinically relevant information (including medical history, medications, allergies, and surgical details)
‍
By entering this information, you are providing personal information that will be used by Dr. Michael Ayling for the sole purpose of assessing your fitness for anaesthesia, coordinating your perioperative care, scheduling your appointment, or returning your contact request.
‍
If you choose to enrol as a subscriber of our website or subscribe to our updates, you may receive recurring announcements and occasional promotional information via email. These emails will be of a general nature and will in no way disclose your unique health characteristics. At the time you subscribe or any time thereafter, you can choose to opt-out of receiving these emails from us.
‍
To subscribe to our website, we need certain contact information, such as your name and email address. We may also store any provided demographic information (such as gender, birth date and address), but it is not required. You can unsubscribe from our communications by simply clicking on the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of our emails; you will be immediately unsubscribed.
‍
Passive Information We Collect
‍
Like many other websites, we also automatically collect and log other non-identifying information when you interact with Dr. Michael Ayling’s website:
‍
Device data: We collect data from the device and application you use to access the website, such as your Internet protocol (IP) addresses, operating system, device type, browser type, and timestamps.
‍
Usage data: We collect usage data that may include which web pages you visit, what you click on, when you performed those actions, and so on.
‍
How Information Is Shared
Except as set forth in this Privacy Policy or as specifically agreed to by you, Dr. Michael Ayling will not disclose any Personally Identifiable or Personal Health Information gathered from you on our website. We will only release Personally Identifiable or Personal Health Information to third parties:
‍
(i) to facilitate your medical care (e.g., sharing relevant information with your surgeon, hospital, Medicare, or private health fund).
(ii) to comply with valid legal requirements such as a law, regulation, search warrant, subpoena, or court order.
(iii) in special cases, such as a physical threat to you or others.
‍
In the event that we are legally compelled to disclose your Personally Identifiable or Personal Health Information to a third party, we will attempt to notify you unless doing so would violate the law or court order. In addition, we may disclose Personal Information as described below.
‍
Your Rights To Access and Control Your Personal Data
You may ask us at any time for information about any personal data we hold about you, or ask us to correct or delete that information. We will complete this request within 30 days of the initial request for information being received.
‍
Access to Personal Information
If Dr. Michael Ayling holds personal information about you, you may request access to that information by putting the request in writing and sending it to Dr. Michael Ayling. Dr. Michael Ayling will respond to any request within a reasonable period, and a charge may apply for giving access to the personal information.
‍
There are certain circumstances in which Dr. Michael Ayling may refuse to grant you access to the personal information. In such situations,  Dr. Michael Ayling will give you written notice that sets out:
i. the reasons for the refusal; and
ii. the mechanisms available to you to make a complaint.
‍
Correction of Personal Information
If Dr. Michael Ayling holds personal information that is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading, he must take steps as are reasonable to correct the information.
‍
If  Dr. Michael Ayling holds personal information and you make a request in writing to correct the information, Dr. Michael Ayling must take steps as are reasonable to correct the information, and Dr. Michael Ayling will respond to any request within a reasonable period.
‍
There are certain circumstances in which Dr. Michael Ayling may refuse to correct the personal information. In such situations,  Dr. Michael Ayling will give you written notice that sets out:
‍
i. the reasons for the refusal; and
ii. the mechanisms available to you to make a complaint.
If Dr. Michael Ayling corrects personal information that he has previously supplied to a third party and you request us to notify the third party of the correction, Dr. Michael Ayling will take such steps as are reasonable to give that notification unless impracticable or unlawful to do so.
‍
Data Retention
We keep the information we have about you and your use of our services for as long as necessary for our legitimate business interests, for medical and legal reasons, for historical research, and to prevent harm, including as described in the How We Use Information and How Information Is Shared sections.
‍
Analytics and Advertising Services Provided by Others
Google Analytics
Our website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). The information generated by the cookie about your use of our website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of our website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators, and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. Further information may be obtained by visiting Google’s privacy policy.
‍
We use this information to conduct research and analysis to better understand how visitors are using the website so that we can improve our website experience. From time to time, Dr. Michael Ayling or operations contractors acting on our behalf may conduct online research in order to gather feedback about our site through online or email surveys.
Participation in these surveys is completely voluntary, and you may choose whether or not to participate and disclose information. Personally Identifiable Information collected through market research will only be used by Dr. Michael Ayling and its operations contractors and will never be given or sold to a third party.
‍
Cookie Policy
We use cookies and other technologies to ensure that everyone who uses the website has the best possible experience. By continuing to visit or use our services, you are agreeing to the use of cookies and similar technologies for the purposes we describe in this policy. You can find more information about cookies at: cookiesandyou.com.
‍
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings preferences. However, if you limit the ability of websites to set cookies, you may worsen your overall user experience, since it will no longer be personalised to you.
Please note that third parties (including, for example, advertising networks and providers of external services like web traffic analysis services) may also use cookies, over which we have no control. These cookies are likely to be analytical/performance cookies or targeting cookies.
‍
Our Policies for Children
We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. Neither this website nor any of its online services are designed or intended to attract children under the age of 18 without the direct involvement and consent of a parent or guardian.
‍
Information Security
We work hard to keep your data safe. We use a combination of technical, administrative, and physical controls to maintain the security of your data. No method of transmitting or storing data is completely secure; however, if you have a security-related concern, please contact us.
‍
Dr. Michael Ayling will take such steps (if any) as are reasonable in the circumstances to ensure that the personal information that he:
i. collects is accurate, up-to-date, and complete; and
ii. uses or discloses is, having regard to the purpose of the use or disclosure, accurate, up-to-date, and complete.
‍
Dr. Michael Ayling will take steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to protect the personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and from unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.
‍
If Dr. Michael Ayling holds personal information, no longer needs the information for any purpose for which the information may be used or disclosed, the information is not contained in any Commonwealth record, and Dr. Michael Ayling is not required by law to retain the information, he will take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to destroy the information or to ensure it is de-identified.
‍
Changes to This Policy
‍
We will inform you if a material change to the Privacy Policy is made that involves the use of your Personally Identifiable Information. Your continued use of the site will indicate acceptance of the changes. Please exit the site immediately if you do not agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy or any revised policy.
‍
Complaints
You have a right to complain about Dr. Michael Ayling handling of your personal information if you believe he has breached the APPs.
If you wish to make such a complaint to Dr. Michael Ayling , you should first contact Dr. Michael Ayling in writing. Your complaint will be dealt with in accordance with Dr. Michael Ayling's complaints procedure, and Dr. Michael Ayling will provide a response within a reasonable period.
‍
If you are unhappy with Dr. Michael Ayling's response to your complaint, you may refer your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
‍
Who We Are and How To Contact Us
If you have questions, suggestions, or concerns about this policy, or about our use of your information, please contact us:
Dr. Michael Ayling
Phone: 02 4626 8254
Email: info@michaelayling.com.au

This Privacy Policy does not protect you when you send content, questions, or ideas to Dr. Michael Ayling via email. If you want to keep them private or proprietary, do not send them in an email. We try to answer every email within 48 business hours but are not always able to do so.

Variations
Dr. Michael Ayling may vary, replace, or terminate this policy from time to time.