How personal information is handled on this website

Who we are

This website is operated on behalf of Dr Adnan Al-Araji, Consultant Neurologist and Medico-Legal Expert Witness.

For the purposes of this privacy policy, references to "Dr Al-Araji", "we", "us" or "our" mean Dr Adnan Al-Araji in relation to information submitted through this website, by email, by telephone or as part of a medico-legal instruction enquiry.

Website: https://alaraji.co.uk/
Email: info@alaraji.co.uk
Telephone: 07954 847 479

Information we may collect

The personal information collected depends on how you use the website and how you contact Dr Al-Araji.

Information you provide directly

• Your name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Organisation, firm or agency name
• Your role or professional capacity
• Information included in an enquiry form, email or telephone message
• Case type, deadlines, assessment requirements or instruction details
• Documents or information supplied in connection with a medico-legal instruction

Information collected automatically

When you use the website, certain technical information may be processed automatically, such as IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited and general website usage information. This may be collected through hosting logs, security tools, analytics tools or cookies, depending on the website configuration.

How information is used

Personal information may be used for the following purposes:

• To respond to website, email or telephone enquiries
• To assess whether a proposed medico-legal instruction is suitable
• To complete conflict checks and availability checks
• To communicate with solicitors, agencies, insurers, claimants or other professional parties
• To arrange assessments, appointments or administrative steps linked to an instruction
• To prepare, manage or deliver medico-legal reports where formally instructed
• To maintain appropriate professional, legal, tax, accounting and insurance records
• To operate, secure and improve the website
• To understand website performance, where analytics tools are used

Information is not sold to third parties.

Lawful basis for processing

Under UK data protection law, a lawful basis is required before personal information is processed. The lawful basis will depend on the nature of the information and the reason it is being used.

Medical information and special category data

Some information supplied as part of a medico-legal enquiry or instruction may include medical information. Medical information is classed as special category data and is treated with additional care.

Where medical information is processed in connection with a medico-legal instruction, it may be used to assess the case, prepare an expert report, answer instructed questions, support legal proceedings or comply with professional and legal obligations.

Depending on the circumstances, the relevant UK GDPR special category condition may include the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, or processing necessary for medical or healthcare purposes by a professional subject to confidentiality obligations.

Please do not send unnecessary medical documents or sensitive information through a website form. Where a formal instruction is being considered, appropriate arrangements can be made for the provision of relevant documents.

Who information may be shared with

Personal information may be shared only where necessary and appropriate. This may include:

• Solicitors, medico-legal agencies, insurers or instructed parties involved in a case
• Courts, tribunals or other legal bodies where required as part of an instruction or legal process
• Administrative support providers assisting with enquiries, scheduling or case administration
• IT, website hosting, email, security and data storage providers
• Professional advisers, accountants, insurers or legal advisers
• Regulatory or public authorities where there is a legal obligation to do so

Any third party service providers are expected to handle personal information securely and only for the purposes for which they are engaged.

How long information is kept

Personal information is kept only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including any professional, legal, regulatory, accounting, insurance or reporting requirements.

• General website enquiries may be retained for a reasonable period so that the enquiry can be managed and followed up.
• Medico-legal instruction records may be retained for longer where required for legal, professional, insurance or record-keeping reasons.
• Technical website logs are generally retained for a limited period unless required for website security, investigation or legal reasons.
• Analytics information, where used, is retained in line with the settings of the relevant analytics provider and cookie consent tools.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information, the nature of the instruction and any applicable legal or professional obligations.

How information is protected

Appropriate technical and organisational measures are used to help protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

These measures may include secure website hosting, access controls, email and device security, administrative safeguards and limiting access to information to those who need it for a legitimate purpose.

No method of transmitting information over the internet is completely secure. Please avoid sending highly sensitive information through website forms unless specifically requested or agreed.

Cookies and analytics

This website may use cookies and similar technologies to help the website function, maintain security, remember preferences and understand how visitors use the site.

Essential cookies may be required for the website to work properly. Non-essential cookies, such as analytics or marketing cookies, should only be used where consent has been given, where required by law.

Further information is available on the Cookie Policy page.

Your data protection rights

Under UK data protection law, individuals have rights in relation to their personal information. These may include:

• The right to be informed about how personal information is used
• The right of access to personal information
• The right to ask for inaccurate information to be corrected
• The right to ask for information to be erased in certain circumstances
• The right to restrict processing in certain circumstances
• The right to object to processing in certain circumstances
• The right to data portability in certain circumstances
• The right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

These rights are not absolute and may depend on the reason information is being processed. For example, information may need to be retained where there are legal, professional, regulatory or medico-legal reasons to do so.

To exercise a data protection right, please contact Dr Al-Araji using the details below.

Complaints

If you have concerns about how your personal information has been handled, please contact Dr Al-Araji first so that the issue can be reviewed.

You also have the right to raise a concern with the Information Commissioner's Office, the UK regulator for data protection matters.

ICO website: https://ico.org.uk/

Changes to this privacy policy

This privacy policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in the website, services, legal requirements or data protection practices.

The latest version will be published on this page with the updated date shown near the top of the policy.