Privacy Policy

Common Sense Medicine ("we," "us," or "our") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that operates this website to provide educational information about defense medicine and preventive health. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you visit our website or interact with our services.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily submit through:

• Contact forms — name, email address, inquiry type, and message content when you reach out via our contact page.
• Newsletter sign-up — email address when you subscribe to research updates and news from Dr. Jones and the foundation.
• Donations — if applicable, name, email, and payment information processed through a third-party payment processor (we do not store full payment card details).

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring website addresses
• IP address (which may be considered personal data in some jurisdictions)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Respond to your inquiries and contact form submissions
• Send newsletter updates you have subscribed to receive
• Improve our website content and user experience
• Analyze aggregate traffic patterns and site usage
• Comply with legal obligations and protect our rights
• Process donations and issue tax receipts where applicable

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience, remember preferences, and analyze site traffic. Cookies are small data files stored on your device. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. Note that disabling cookies may affect certain features of the website.

We may use analytics services (such as Google Analytics or similar tools) that collect anonymized or pseudonymized usage data. These services have their own privacy policies governing data collection and use.

4. We Do Not Sell Your Data

Common Sense Medicine does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We share information only in the following limited circumstances:

• With service providers who assist us in operating the website (e.g., email delivery, hosting, analytics), bound by confidentiality obligations
• When required by law, court order, or governmental regulation
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of Common Sense Medicine, our users, or others

5. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including to satisfy legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Contact form submissions are typically retained for up to three years unless a longer period is required by law.

6. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Opt out of marketing communications at any time
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@commonsensemedicine.org. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

8. Children's Privacy

Our website is intended for a general audience and is not directed at children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (such as research databases, partner organizations, or publication hosts). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

10. Medical Disclaimer

Information submitted through our contact forms — including patient questions — is used for educational and administrative purposes only. Submitting information through this website does not create a physician-patient relationship. For our full medical disclaimer, see our Terms of Use and the disclaimer in our site footer.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at info@commonsensemedicine.org or through our contact page.