Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy is current as of 31 July 2025. It sets out how Anaesthesia Vault collects, uses and protects personal information when you use our website, web app or related services. References to “we”, “us” or “our” mean the proprietors of Anaesthesia Vault (currently Dr Francois Uys).

Under South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), all organisations processing personal information must comply with eight conditions for lawful processing: accountability, processing limitation, purpose specification, further‑processing limitation, information quality, openness, security safeguards and data‑subject participation POPIA requires organisations to be transparent about data‑processing activities and to allow data subjects to access, correct or delete their personal information. Similar obligations exist under other laws (e.g., the EU’s GDPR and California’s CCPA) and we strive to meet these standards.

We collect information needed to provide our educational services and to run our business. This may include:

• Account data: when you register or log in to our platform, we collect your name, email address, password and, if applicable, your professional role (e.g., anaesthesia registrar). We may collect additional information if you complete your profile or participate in the community.
  

• Payment and subscription data: if you purchase a subscription, we collect payment information such as billing address and transaction identifiers via our payment processor. We do not store full credit‑card numbers ourselves.
  

• Usage data: we collect information about how you interact with our website and app (e.g., pages visited, search queries, clicks and time spent). This helps us improve content relevance and user experience. Cookies or similar technologies may be used for analytics and to remember your preferences.
  

• Communications: when you contact us by email or submit feedback, we collect the information you provide so we can respond and improve our services.
  

• Device/technical data: we may collect your IP address, browser type, device information and operating‑system version to ensure security and troubleshoot technical issues.
  

We use personal information only for purposes that are lawful, specific and defined. In particular:

• To provide and improve the service: We use account and usage data to deliver educational content, maintain membership records, operate community features and personalise your learning experience. We monitor information quality and update our notes regularly to ensure clinical relevance.
  

• To process payments and manage subscriptions: Payment data is used to administer subscriptions and billing. We use reputable third‑party processors and comply with applicable financial regulations. Payment methods, billing cycles, refund and cancellation terms are explained in our Terms of Service (see below).
  

• To communicate with you: We may send administrative messages (e.g., account confirmation, password reset, billing notices) and respond to support queries. With your consent, we may send updates about new topics, features or promotions. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time.
  

• To protect our platform and comply with law: We monitor activity to prevent unauthorised access and detect potential abuse. We may process data to meet legal obligations or respond to lawful requests by authorities.
  

Depending on your location and applicable law, our legal basis for processing personal information may be:

• Performance of a contract: we need to process your data to provide the services you requested (e.g., to create an account or deliver subscription content).
  

• Consent: or optional communications or analytics, we rely on your consent. Under POPIA, consent must be voluntary, specific and informed
  

• Legitimate interests: we may process data for legitimate business purposes (e.g., improving our services or preventing misuse) provided that your rights are not overridden.
  

• Legal obligation: we may process data to comply with tax, reporting or data‑protection laws.
  

We only share personal information with trusted third parties when necessary:

• Service providers: We use third‑party companies for website hosting, payment processing, analytics and customer support. These providers act as “operators” under POPIA and may process data only on our instructions.
  

• Community or collaboration features: If you post content or interact in community forums, your name and comments may be visible to other members. Do not share sensitive patient information on our platform.
  

• Legal requirements: We may disclose data if required to do so by law or to protect our rights, safety or the rights of others.
  

• Business transfers: If Anaesthesia Vault is sold or merged, your information may be transferred to new owners. We will notify you and allow you to exercise your rights.
  

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard personal information. These measures include secure servers, encryption of data in transit, role‑based access controls, regular backups and staff training. We monitor our systems for potential vulnerabilities and implement updates promptly. Despite these efforts, no system is completely secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.If a data breach occurs, we will notify the Information Regulator of South Africa and affected users as soon as reasonably possible, providing details of the breach, potential impact and remedial actions.

Anaesthesia Vault has users in many countries. Personal information may be stored and processed outside your home country. Where we transfer data internationally, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as contractual clauses or equivalent protections, consistent with Section 72 of POPIA and, where applicable, GDPR.

Under POPIA and other applicable laws, you have the right to:

• Access: request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you and obtain a copy.
  

• Rectify: ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
  

• Delete: request deletion of your data when it is no longer required or where consent is withdrawn.
  

• Object: object to processing for direct marketing or other purposes.
  

• Withdraw consent: where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
  

• Lodge a complaint: contact the South African Information Regulator if you believe we are not complying with data‑protection laws.
  

You can exercise these rights by contacting us (see Section 10). We may require proof of identity and may refuse requests under limited circumstances (e.g., if we are legally required to keep the data).

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes. If you cancel your subscription or delete your account, we will delete or anonymise your data unless we must retain it for legal or record‑keeping purposes.

Cookies are small data files stored on your device. We use necessary cookies to provide core functionality and analytics cookies to understand how our services are used. Where required by law, we will obtain your consent before using non‑essential cookies. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies; however, this may impact your experience.

Anaesthesia Vault has appointed an Information Officer, as required by POPIA. To exercise your rights or ask questions about this policy, please contact:

• Information Officer: Dr Francois Uys
  

• Email: info@anaesthesiavault.com
  

• Postal address: Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa
  

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email or a prominent notice on our website. Your continued use of the service after an update signifies your acceptance of the revised policy. Please review this page periodically for the latest information.

Our service is intended for adult learners and is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us so we can delete it.

The educational content on Anaesthesia Vault is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Including a medical disclaimer helps reduce liability when readers use the content in place of professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for individual medical guidance.