HIPAA Privacy Notice

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

WHO WILL FOLLOW THIS NOTICE?
This notice describes the privacy and data-handling practices used to process inquiries submitted through our surgery websites (listed at the end of this document), and the practices that will be followed by the sole authorized individual who manages your medical information.

OUR PLEDGE REGARDING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

We understand that medical information about you and your health is personal, and we are committed to protecting it. We maintain our records with the goal of providing the highest level of security for your medical information. This notice applies to all emails related to your medical care that are received or created as part of your inquiry. All such emails are transmitted and stored in encrypted form. Our service providers, who supply the technology used for these communications, also employ HIPAA-compliant safeguards and cannot access your information in an unencrypted state.

This notice applies to all emails and related communications connected to your medical inquiry that are received or created in the course of providing this service. All such emails are transmitted and stored in encrypted form. Our vendors, who provide the technology supporting these services, also employ HIPAA-compliant safeguards and cannot access your information in an unencrypted state.

Your medical treatment providers (e.g., doctors, hospitals, home health agencies, etc.) located in the United States are also bound by HIPAA and maintain their own notices of privacy practices regarding the use and disclosure of your medical information.

This notice explains the ways in which your information—also known as “protected health information,” which includes demographic information capable of identifying you and relating to your past, present, or future health or health care—may be used and disclosed.

We are required to:

  1. Make sure that medical and other information that identifies you (protected health information) is kept private.
  2. Give your this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information about you.
  3. Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

USES AND DISCLOSURES FOR TREATMENT

By using our services, you consent to our transmitting your protected health information for the purposes described in this notice.

We may use and disclose your protected health information so that we and our surgeon partners can assist with your care. For example, we may transmit information you provide to a surgeon or surgical practice to whom you are referred.

The following uses and disclosures of your protected health information may be made without additional authorization from you. (Not every possible use or disclosure is listed; however, all such uses and disclosures will be made only as permitted under applicable law.)

Uses and disclosures required by law
We will use or disclose protected health information about you when required to do so by federal, state, or local law. The use or disclosure will be made in compliance with the law and will be limited to the relevant requirements of the law. You will be notified, if the law requires us to do so, of any such uses or disclosures. We must make disclosures to you and when required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the law.

Disclosures for health oversight activities
We may disclose protected health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These activities include, for example, audits, investigations, and inspections. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, the delivery of health care, government benefit programs, other government regulatory programs and civil rights laws.

Disclosures for lawsuits and disputes
If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose protected health information about you in response to a court order or administrative order. We may also disclose protected health information about you in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

Disclosures to law enforcement
We may release protected health information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official, in response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons, or similar process.

Other related disclosures may include disclosures relating to individuals who are Armed Forces personnel, to national security and intelligence agencies, as well as disclosures to authorized federal officials for the protection of the President of the United States or other authorized persons or foreign heads of state.

Disclosures related to criminal activity
We may disclose your protected health information, consistent with federal and state laws, if we believe that the use or disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public, or if it is necessary for law enforcement authorities to identify or apprehend an individual.

Disclosures for research
We may disclose anonymized data to researchers for academic study. This may include a limited set of your information, such as truncated IP address (geographical information), as allowed under the law, for research purposes.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

Right to inspect and copy
You have the right to inspect and copy protected health information that may be used to make decisions about your medical care. You must submit your request in writing. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request. Your request to inspect and copy your information may only be denied in very limited circumstances and you have a right to request that any such denial be reviewed.

Right to request restrictions
You have the right to request that we restrict the use and disclosure of your protected health information for treatment. We are not required to agree to your request. If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you emergency treatment. In your request, you must tell us:

  1. What information you want to limit.
  2. Whether you want to limit our use, disclosure, or both.
  3. To whom you want the limits to apply.

Right to confidential communications
You also have the right to request to receive private health information communications by alternative means or at alternative locations. For example, you can ask that we only contact you at work or by mail. We will not ask you the reason for your request. We will accommodate all reasonable requests. Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted.

Right to amend
If you feel that the protected health information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to request that your protected health information be amended. Only the health care entity (e.g., doctor, hospital, clinic, etc.) that created your protected health information is responsible for amending it.

Right to an accounting of disclosures
You have the right to request an accounting of disclosures of your protected health information for purposes other than treatment or other permitted activities performed on our behalf. Your request must specify a time period not exceeding six (6) years prior to the request date and not earlier than February 1, 2014. You may request the list electronically or on paper. Fees may apply for photocopying.

Right to a paper copy of this notice
You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time.
You may obtain a copy of this Notice at our website: https://transsurgery.net/hipaa-privacy-notice

Changes to this notice
We reserve the right to change this notice. We reserve the right to make the revised or changed Notice effective for protected health information we already have about you, as well as any information we create or receive in the future. We will post a copy of the current Notice on our website: https://transsurgery.net/hipaa-privacy-notice. The Notice will contain the effective and last updated dates.

Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated or that this policy has not been followed, you may file a complaint with our Privacy Officer or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint, contact the Privacy Officer:transsurgery.net privacy {{at}} . You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

Other uses of protected health information
Uses and disclosures of protected health information not described in this notice or not otherwise permitted by law will require your written authorization. If you authorize such use or disclosure, you may revoke your authorization at any time. Revocation will not affect information already disclosed, and we are required to retain records of communications and services already provided.

Questions?
If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact the Office Manager: privacy {{at}} transsurgery.net.

This notice applies to the following websites:

  1. TopSurgery.net
  2. Metoidioplasty.net
  3. Phallo.net
  4. FTMsurgery.net
  5. MTFsurgery.net
  6. FacialFeminization.net

Effective Date: February 1, 2014

Last updated (verbiage): December 9, 2025