Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 1, 2026

Plain-Language Summary

This summary is provided for your convenience. It is not a substitute for reading the full Terms of Use and Privacy Policy below, which govern your use of this website.

• This website is for education, not medical advice. Nothing here — including the "Ask Jerry" AI tool — is a substitute for talking to your doctor. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before making any medication decision.

• The "Ask Jerry" AI tool has real limitations. It can make errors, produce incomplete answers, and does not know your personal health situation. Use it as a starting point for learning, not as medical guidance.

• You use this website at your own risk. By using the site and the AI tool, you accept full personal responsibility for any decisions you make based on content here.

• Dr. Avorn and his affiliates cannot be held liable. You agree to hold Dr. Avorn, Harvard Medical School, Mass General Brigham, his publishers, and all associated parties harmless from any claims arising from your use of this website.

• Your personal data is not sold. We collect basic information (such as your email address and site usage data) to operate the site, send newsletters, and improve the AI tool. We do not sell your information to third parties.

• Two free AI tool questions, then an email is required. After two questions, you will be asked to provide your email address to continue using the "Ask Jerry" feature.

• Content on this website is protected by copyright. You may read and share links to content for personal, non-commercial use, but you may not reproduce or republish it without permission.

• Massachusetts law governs any disputes. By using this website, you consent to the jurisdiction of courts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

• This document can change. We may update these Terms and Privacy Policy at any time. Continued use of the site means you accept any updates.

Part One: Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, browsing, or using this website (the "Site"), including any content, features, tools, or services offered on or through the Site, you ("User," "you," or "your") acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by these Terms of Use (the "Terms") and our Privacy Policy. These Terms apply to all visitors, subscribers, and others who access or use the Site.

If you are using the Site on behalf of an organization, you represent and warrant that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

2. About This Website and Its Content

This website is operated by Dr. Jerry Avorn ("Dr. Avorn," "I," "me," or "my"), a Harvard Medical School professor and author of Rethinking Medications: Truth, Power, and the Drugs You Take (Simon & Schuster, 2025). The Site is intended to provide general educational information about pharmaceutical policy, drug safety, and medication transparency. It is not intended to serve as a source of personal medical advice of any kind.

"Affiliates," as used in these Terms, means Dr. Avorn's publishers, research programs, academic institution (Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham), professional staff, and any agents, contractors, or representatives acting on his behalf in connection with the Site.

3. No Medical Advice — Important Medical Disclaimer

THE CONTENT ON THIS SITE, INCLUDING ALL TEXT, ARTICLES, BLOG POSTS, TOOL OUTPUTS, AND OTHER MATERIALS, IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NOTHING ON THIS SITE CONSTITUTES PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT.

Dr. Avorn strongly recommends and urges that every user:

• Consult a qualified, licensed physician or healthcare provider before making any decision related to medications, treatments, supplements, or any other aspect of your healthcare;

• Never disregard, delay, or discontinue professional medical advice based on anything you read, access, or receive on this Site;

• Never self-prescribe, self-diagnose, or self-treat based on information encountered on this Site; and

• Always discuss your complete medication regimen with your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider, especially before starting, stopping, or altering any prescription medication.

The information on this Site reflects general research and policy perspectives. Individual medical circumstances vary enormously. What is true at a population level may not apply to you as an individual. Only your personal healthcare provider, who knows your full medical history, can give you advice tailored to your situation.

In the event of a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately. Do not rely on this Site for emergency medical guidance.

4. The "Ask Jerry" AI Tool — Special Terms

4.1 Nature of the Tool

This Site offers an AI-powered question-and-answer feature called "Ask Jerry" (the "AI Tool"). The AI Tool uses artificial intelligence technology, including the Claude API developed by Anthropic, PBC, to generate responses to user questions about pharmaceutical policy, medications, and related topics. The AI Tool draws on curated educational materials, including content from Rethinking Medications and related publications.

4.2 Limitations and No Warranty

THE AI TOOL IS PROVIDED STRICTLY FOR GENERAL EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. IT DOES NOT AND CANNOT:

• Provide personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations;

• Account for your individual health history, conditions, or circumstances;

• Replace or substitute for the judgment of a licensed physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider;

• Guarantee accuracy, completeness, or currency of any information it provides; or

• Function as a clinical decision-making tool of any kind.

AI-generated responses may contain errors, omissions, or outdated information. The AI Tool may occasionally produce responses that are incomplete, imprecise, or inconsistent. You agree to treat all AI Tool outputs as general educational content only and to verify any information with your healthcare provider before acting on it.

4.3 User Assumption of Risk

BY USING THE AI TOOL, YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT:

• You use the AI Tool entirely at your own risk;

• You accept sole and full responsibility for any decisions you make based, in whole or in part, on information or responses generated by the AI Tool;

• You will not use the AI Tool as a substitute for consultation with a licensed healthcare professional; and

• You understand that AI-generated content has inherent limitations and may not reflect the most current scientific or medical standards.

4.4 Prohibited Uses of the AI Tool

You agree not to use the AI Tool to:

• Seek or obtain personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment for yourself or others;

• Make any healthcare or medication decision without first consulting a licensed healthcare provider;

• Generate content intended to mislead, harm, or deceive any person;

• Attempt to circumvent, reverse-engineer, or manipulate the AI system;

• Scrape, copy, or systematically extract data from AI Tool outputs for commercial purposes; or

• Violate any applicable law or regulation.

4.5 Email Gate and Account Responsibility

Access to the AI Tool beyond two (2) complimentary questions requires providing a valid email address. By providing your email address, you represent that the email address is yours and that you have authority to register with it. You are responsible for all activity associated with your email registration.

5. Intellectual Property

All content on this Site, including but not limited to text, graphics, articles, blog posts, educational materials, the "Ask Jerry" AI Tool, and all underlying software and architecture, is owned by or licensed to Dr. Jerry Avorn and is protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You may access and read content on the Site for personal, non-commercial educational purposes. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works from, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store, or transmit any portion of the Site's content without prior written permission from Dr. Avorn, except:

• You may print or download a single copy of individual pages for your personal, non-commercial use; and

• You may share links to Site content on social media or in personal correspondence, provided you do not misrepresent the content or its source.

Excerpts from Rethinking Medications and other published works by Dr. Avorn remain subject to the copyright held by their respective publishers and may not be reproduced without authorization.

6. User Conduct

You agree that you will not use the Site to:

• Violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation;

• Transmit any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising or promotional material;

• Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity;

• Engage in any conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone's use or enjoyment of the Site;

• Introduce any viruses, trojan horses, worms, logic bombs, or other harmful material; or

• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Site or its related systems.

7. Third-Party Links and Content

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, including book retailers (such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble), research institutions, media outlets, and other resources. These links are provided for your convenience only. Dr. Avorn does not endorse, control, or assume any responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or accuracy of any third-party websites. Accessing any third-party site is at your own risk, and you should review the applicable third party's terms and privacy policy before providing any personal information.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SITE AND ALL CONTENT, FEATURES, AND SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH IT, INCLUDING THE AI TOOL, ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. DR. AVORN AND HIS AFFILIATES EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement;

• Warranties that the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure;

• Warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of any content, including AI Tool outputs; and

• Warranties that any defects in the Site will be corrected.

No information, whether oral or written, obtained from this Site or through the AI Tool shall create any warranty not expressly stated in these Terms.

9. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL DR. JERRY AVORN, HIS AFFILIATES, PUBLISHERS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTION, AGENTS, EMPLOYEES, LICENSORS, OR SERVICE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY:

• Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages;

• Damages for personal injury, property damage, loss of data, loss of goodwill, lost profits, or business interruption;

• Damages arising out of or related to your use of, or inability to use, the Site or the AI Tool; or

• Damages arising from any decision made in reliance on information found on this Site.

THIS LIMITATION APPLIES WHETHER THE ALLEGED LIABILITY IS BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND EVEN IF DR. AVORN OR HIS AFFILIATES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

In jurisdictions where the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages is not permitted, liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

10. Indemnification and Hold Harmless

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Dr. Jerry Avorn, his affiliates, publishers, Harvard Medical School, Mass General Brigham, and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, and successors (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, and fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to:

• Your access to or use of the Site or the AI Tool;

• Your violation of these Terms;

• Any decision, action, or omission taken by you or on your behalf in reliance on any content on this Site, including AI Tool outputs;

• Your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property rights; or

• Any claim that your use of the Site caused harm to a third party.

You agree that this indemnification obligation survives termination of your use of the Site and these Terms.

11. Modifications to the Site and Terms

Dr. Avorn reserves the right, at his sole discretion, to modify or discontinue the Site or any feature (including the AI Tool) at any time without notice. He also reserves the right to update these Terms at any time. Updated Terms will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms. You are responsible for reviewing these Terms periodically.

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or related to them, their subject matter, or their formation shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provisions. Any legal action or proceeding arising under these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the federal or state courts located in Massachusetts, and you hereby consent to personal jurisdiction and venue in such courts.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of these Terms will continue in full force and effect.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms and the Privacy Policy set forth below constitute the entire agreement between you and Dr. Avorn with respect to the Site and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof.

Part Two: Privacy Policy

15. Introduction

Dr. Jerry Avorn operates this website (the "Site"). This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is collected, used, disclosed, and protected when you visit the Site or use its features, including the "Ask Jerry" AI Tool.

16. Information Collected

16.1 Information You Provide

When you use the contact form, subscribe to a newsletter or email list, register to use the AI Tool, or otherwise interact with the Site, you may provide personal information such as your name and email address.

16.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Site, certain information is collected automatically, including:

• Browser type and version;

• Device information;

• IP address;

• Pages visited and time spent on pages;

• Referring website; and

• Date and time of visit.

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16.3 AI Tool Interactions

When you use the "Ask Jerry" AI Tool, your questions and interactions may be logged for purposes of improving the tool, managing costs, and caching responses in accordance with the Site's technical infrastructure. By using the AI Tool, you consent to this logging. Please do not include sensitive personal information, including health information, financial data, or private identifying details, in your questions to the AI Tool.

16.4 Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Site uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, analyze site usage, and support marketing efforts. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.

17. How Your Information Is Used

Information collected is used to:

• Respond to your inquiries and requests;

• Provide access to and operation of the AI Tool;

• Send newsletters and updates (with your consent);

• Improve the Site and user experience;

• Analyze site traffic and usage patterns; and

• Comply with legal obligations.

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18. How Your Information Is Shared

Personal information is not sold, rented, or traded. Information may be shared with:

Service Providers: Third-party providers that assist with website hosting (Wix), email communications (including Substack), analytics (Google Analytics, Wix Analytics), AI Tool functionality (Anthropic, PBC), and related services. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes specified.

Legal Requirements: Information may be disclosed if required by law, legal process, or government request, or to protect rights, property, or safety.

19. Email Communications

If you subscribe to the newsletter or email updates:

• You may unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email;

• Your email address will not be shared with third parties for their marketing purposes; and

• Email communications are delivered through third-party service providers, which may include Substack.

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20. Analytics and Advertising

Google Analytics and Wix Analytics are used to understand how visitors use the Site. These services collect information such as how often users visit, which pages they view, and which sites they visited prior to arriving at the Site.

Meta (Facebook/Instagram) advertising tools may be used to promote content and events. According to Meta's privacy policy, Meta may collect information about your visit to this Site for advertising purposes.

21. Social Media Embeds and Third-Party Links

The Site may display embedded content from social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Bluesky. When you view these embeds, the relevant platforms may collect information about your visit in accordance with their own privacy policies.

The Site includes links to third-party book retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. These retailers have their own privacy policies governing the collection and use of your information during any purchase transactions.

22. Data Retention

Personal information is retained only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

23. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

• Accessing the information held about you;

• Correcting inaccurate information;

• Requesting deletion of your information;

• Opting out of marketing communications; and

• Controlling cookie preferences.

To exercise any of these rights, please use the contact form on the Site's contact page.

24. California Privacy Rights

California residents have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to request deletion, and the right to opt out of the sale of personal information. Personal information is not sold.

25. Children's Privacy

This Site is not directed to children under the age of 13. Personal information from children under 13 is not knowingly collected. If you believe a child has provided personal information through this Site, please contact Dr. Avorn via the contact page, and steps will be taken to delete that information promptly.

26. Data Security

Reasonable technical and organizational measures are implemented to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. Use of the Site and submission of personal information is at your own risk.

27. Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Effective Date." You are encouraged to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

Contact

If you have questions or concerns about these Terms of Use, this Privacy Policy, or any practices described herein, please use the contact form available on the contact page of this website.

By using this Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.