Terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions

Down to Earth Naturopathy
Website: downtoearthnaturopathy.com
Email: hello@downtoearthnaturopathy.com
Practitioner: Mado Paulsen

1. Client Responsibilities

By booking a consultation and commencing treatment, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

  • Understanding of Services: You are aware that the services provided are based on Naturopathic Medicine and supportive principles, including but not limited to dietary and lifestyle support, nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, topical herbal therapy, flower essence therapies, self-administered physical therapies, and referrals for diagnostic testing or to other practitioners as needed.

  • Disclosure: All information provided to Mado Paulsen about your health is true and correct to the best of your knowledge. You will update your practitioner of any changes in your health, medications, or conditions.

  • Special Conditions: You recognize that even gentle therapies may cause complications in certain conditions such as pregnancy, lactation, very young children, elderly patients, and those with diseases like heart, liver, kidney diseases, or diabetes.

  • Confidentiality: Your health records will be kept confidential and will not be shared without your written consent unless required by law. You have the right to view and request a copy of your health records (administration fees may apply).

  • Research and Consultation: Your health information may be used anonymized for research and treatment purposes. Mado Paulsen may consult with other practitioners about your treatment without revealing your identity.

2. Practitioner Qualifications and Client Care

  • Practitioner Credentials: Mado Paulsen holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) and is a registered member of the NHAA (Membership #157013). The practitioner is a fully qualified, registered and insured clinical naturopath and herbalist.

  • Scope of Practice: Mado Paulsen is not a medical doctor. The advice given should be used in conjunction with your general physician’s guidance. You are at liberty to seek or continue care from other healthcare providers.

  • Treatment Plans: Treatment plans are not meant as long-term solutions. Successful treatment may require ongoing assessment and modification of the treatment plan over time. Commitment to follow recommended treatment plans is essential for meaningful results. Non-compliance may alter expected outcomes. Products should be sourced as recommended by your practitioner to ensure reliable outcomes. Product substitutions are not recommended and should be discussed with your practitioner first as changes may alter expected outcomes.

3. Privacy Policy

  • Compliance: Mado Paulsen complies with the NHAA privacy policy and the Health Council National Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Care Workers (Queensland).

  • Third-Party Providers: Your practitioner uses third-party services for practice management, video conferencing, payment pathways, specimen collection, laboratory analysis, and more. These providers have their own terms of use and privacy policies.

4. Bookings, Payments, and Additional Fees

  • Booking System: All consultations must be booked via the 'My Appointments' booking platform. Payments are required in full at the time of booking.

  • Consultation Fees: Fees cover the consultation time only and do not include additional services (e.g. comprehensive report assessment, diagnostic/pathology testing) or products, which will be discussed and agreed upon before any payment is required.

  • Financial Responsibility: You are financially liable for all treatments rendered and any additional fees associated with diagnostic testing or prescribed products.

  • Any and all additional charges will be discussed with you before payment is required.

5. Contacting Your Practitioner Outside of Scheduled Appointments

  • Communication Protocol: For confidentiality and duty of care reasons, in-depth health concerns cannot be discussed outside of a formal consultation. This ensures that all discussions are properly documented and managed within the context of your overall treatment plan.

  • Email Communications: You may contact your practitioner via email at hello@downtoearthnaturopathy.com for questions regarding your current treatment plan, prescription, and/or referral processes (e.g. getting tests done etc). Please allow reasonable time for a response.

  • Recording Concerns: Any other health concerns should be recorded and raised during your next scheduled consultation to ensure they are addressed thoroughly and appropriately.

  • Urgent Issues: If you experience an adverse reaction or urgent health issue, seek immediate medical attention from a licensed healthcare provider or hospital. You can also email hello@downtoearthnaturopathy.com with the subject line “URGENT” to notify the practitioner of the situation.

6. Rescheduling and Cancellation Policy

  • Notice Requirement: A minimum of 48 hours notice is required to cancel or reschedule without cost. Fees apply for cancellations or rescheduling within 48 hours of the scheduled consultation as outlined below:

  • For cancellations:

    • More than 48 hours notice: Full refund minus transaction fees.

    • 48 to 24 hours: 50% refund.

    • 24 to 12 hours: 25% refund.

    • Less than 12 hours/no show: No refund.

  • For reschedules:

    • More than 48 hours notice: Full credit towards rescheduled consultation (must be scheduling within the 4 weeks following. Beyond that, payment will be forfeited).

    • 48 to 24 hours: 50% credit.

    • 24 to 12 hours: 25% credit.

    • Less than 12 hours/no show: No credit or refund.

  • Internet Responsibility: For telehealth appointments, ensure a stable internet connection. Practitioner will not compensate for time lost due to client’s connection issues.

  • Lateness: If you are late or face issues, you may still be charged the full consultation fee. Problems on the practitioner's end will be compensated by extending or rescheduling the session.

7. Third-Party Providers

  • Service Providers: Includes practice management software (My Appointments) with integrated booking systems, payment pathways, forms, telehealth services and more. Other third party providers are used for diagnostic and treatment services. Each provider has its own privacy policy, patient registration requires and (sometimes) additional costs (e.g. pathology testing). All costs will be discussed with you before payment is required.

  • Consultations: Conducted online via My Appointments platform. Additional services/products (e.g. prescriptions, testing) may require account registration and/or incur fees (e.g. product purchase, specimen collection, postage costs etc).

8. Intellectual Property

  • Content Rights: All content provided in consultations, treatment plans, and on the Down to Earth Naturopathy website is protected by copyright laws. You may not copy, reproduce, or distribute any part of the content without written consent from Mado Paulsen.

  • Permitted Use: Course content, treatment plans and/or health advice provided during consultations can be printed or downloaded for personal use only. Sharing or commercial exploitation of this content is strictly prohibited.

  • Prescription validity and authorised repeats: Length of time your treatment plan and prescription are valid for will be provided on the relevant documents. Treatment plans and prescriptions are otherwise valid for a MAXIMUM of 2 months from date of receipt (unless otherwise stated). Your practitioner will not authorise repeat prescriptions beyond 2 months without a follow up appointment (unless otherwise stated on your prescription). Short phone consultations are available to return patients at a reduced cost for quick prescription review and authorisation of repeats if needed. Please contact the clinic at hello@downtoearthnaturopathy.com for more information regarding this service.

  • Attribution: You may share blog posts or other publicly available content through social media, provided you include a link back to the Down to Earth Naturopathy website or relevant social media page.

  • Professional Use: If you are a healthcare professional, you may not use the provided content to compete with Down to Earth Naturopathy.

9. Legal and Liability

  • Indemnity: You expressly assume all risks and waive any claims against Mado Paulsen or Down to Earth Naturopathy for any future injury, illness, liability, loss, or damage incurred in connection with the use or misuse of prescribed treatments or advice.

  • Disclaimer: Information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your general physician before making significant health changes.

  • Limitations of Liability: While we make all reasonable efforts to ensure the quality of our services, we are not liable for any indirect or consequential damages arising from the use or misuse of our services.

  • Dispute Resolution: Any disputes will be attempted to be resolved through negotiation and mediation before pursuing legal action. The governing law is that of Queensland, Australia.

10. Declaration and Consent

By booking a consultation and commencing treatment, you (the client) declare that you:

  • Have read, understood, and agree to these terms and conditions.

  • Authorise and consent to treatment provided by Mado Paulsen.

  • Understand the right to revoke this consent in writing at any time.

  • Are welcome to discuss any aspect of your treatment with your practitioner.