About our medical content

Introduction

Written by Dr R Karunadasa, Chief Medical Officer, and reviewed by Adeel Arshad, Registered Manager and Clinical Lead.

At PrivateDoc we provide health information to help people understand medical conditions, treatments and medicines before or after speaking with a healthcare professional. We recognise that health information can influence real-world decisions and we take responsibility for how our content is created, reviewed and maintained.

This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for an individual clinical consultation. Decisions about investigations or treatment can only be made after a clinician has reviewed a person’s medical history, symptoms and individual circumstances.

Our formal governance framework for health content is described in our editorial standards.

How our content is created and reviewed

All clinical and health-related content published on the PrivateDoc website is authored and published by Dr R Karunadasa, Chief Medical Officer. Dr Karunadasa is responsible for ensuring that content is clinically accurate, balanced and appropriate at the time of publication.

Each item of content is reviewed prior to publication by Mr Adeel Arshad, Registered Manager and Clinical Lead. This review provides additional clinical and governance oversight, ensuring that information is responsibly presented and aligned with PrivateDoc’s regulatory responsibilities as a UK healthcare provider.

By clearly naming the individuals responsible for authorship and review, we aim to be transparent about accountability for the information we publish.

Our approach to evidence and balance

Content is based on reputable clinical sources and aims to present both benefits and risks where relevant.

We use recognised clinical guidance, peer-reviewed medical literature and publications from professional and regulatory organisations to inform our content. Where appropriate, references are cited so that readers can identify the source material used.

Medical evidence is not always definitive. Where evidence is evolving, limited or subject to differing clinical opinion, this is explained clearly rather than overstated. Treatment suitability varies between individuals and our content reflects this, supporting informed discussion with a healthcare professional.

We do not accept payment to promote specific treatments or medicines, and information is not written to persuade beyond its educational purpose.

Writing for patients

Our content is written for patients, not healthcare professionals. We aim to avoid unnecessary medical jargon and explain clinical concepts in clear, plain English. Where medical terms are used, we explain what they mean and why they matter.

The intention is to support understanding without oversimplifying complex decisions or making generalised recommendations that may not be appropriate for everyone.

Keeping information accurate and up to date

Information is factually accurate at the time of publication.

Reviewed at least annually as part of our clinical governance process.

Content may be reviewed sooner where new clinical guidance, safety alerts or regulatory changes could affect patient understanding or safety. Each page shows when it was last reviewed so readers can judge how current the information is.

Corrections and feedback

If an error or potentially misleading statement is identified, we take action to correct it promptly. Content may be amended or temporarily unpublished while issues are reviewed and resolved.

Feedback from readers is welcomed and helps us improve clarity, accuracy and quality over time.

Our wider responsibilities

PrivateDoc operates within a wider clinical governance framework as a regulated UK healthcare provider. Our approach to publishing health information reflects this responsibility, recognising that inaccurate or poorly presented information could contribute to avoidable harm.

By applying clear standards for authorship, review, evidence use and ongoing maintenance, we aim to provide health information that is careful, transparent and worthy of trust.