Privacy & Patient Confidentiality Policy

Effective Date: October 2026

At drahsantariqdogar.health, safeguarding the medical privacy, dignity, and personal confidentiality of our patients is our core ethical obligation. This Privacy & Patient Confidentiality Policy describes how information is collected, safeguarded, and handled by Dr. Ahsan Tariq Dogar (Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist & Behavioral Therapist) and our clinic staff.

1. Information Handled by This Website

• No Electronic Medical Records Stored On-Site: This website is purely an informational platform. We do not maintain patient registration accounts, online intake portals, or electronic medical record (EMR) databases on our public web servers.
• Technical & Analytics Data: Standard anonymous browsing metrics (such as device type, browser version, and aggregated page visits) may be processed via cookies to verify site speed, stability, and mobile navigation. No identifiable psychiatric data is linked to these cookies.

2. WhatsApp Tele-Health & Communications Privacy

Because clinical scheduling and remote consultations are facilitated through WhatsApp, we observe the following privacy protocols:

• End-to-End Encryption: Direct messaging and calls on WhatsApp are protected by WhatsApp’s native end-to-end encryption, ensuring transmissions remain between the sender and the clinical recipient.
• Voluntary Clinical Information: Any preliminary details provided by patients (e.g., age, presenting symptoms, prior prescriptions, or clinical questions) are utilized exclusively for scheduling evaluation and clinical preparation.
• Offline Medical Files: All diagnostic notes, therapy assessments, and clinical observations recorded during sessions are stored in secure, offline medical records and are never published or connected to the public web server.

3. PMDC Ethical Standards & Non-Disclosure

As a medical specialist licensed with the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC), Dr. Ahsan Tariq Dogar adheres to rigorous psychiatric confidentiality guidelines. Your clinical history, psychiatric diagnosis, medications, and psychotherapy notes will never be sold, rented, monetized, or shared with commercial entities.

4. Legal & Clinical Safety Exceptions

Under established psychiatric medical ethics and the statutory laws of Pakistan, physician-patient confidentiality is strictly maintained except in the following rare circumstances:

• Imminent Risk of Severe Harm: Where there is clear, impending danger of suicide, self-inflicted life-threatening harm, or violent bodily harm to another individual, the physician is ethically required to intervene by notifying family, designated guardians, or emergency services.
• Court Mandate: Where disclosure of medical records is expressly compelled under a lawful judicial order or court subpoena.

5. External Resources & Research Links

Our educational materials may link to external clinical journals, research databases (such as PubMed), or medical bodies. We do not exercise control over external platforms and advise reviewing their respective privacy terms when visiting external sites.

6. Patient Data Rights

Patients maintain the right to request a clinical summary of their psychiatric evaluations, request updates to personal contact details, or request discontinuation of follow-up notifications by contacting our clinical WhatsApp desk.