AI Screening Disclaimer

Dr Oosthuizen Orthopaedic Practice may offer an online tool that allows patients to upload X-rays, scans, photographs or symptom information for preliminary orthopaedic screening. This tool may use artificial intelligence to assist with the early review of information relating to bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, the spine, injuries, pain or other orthopaedic concerns.

The purpose of the tool is to assist with preliminary screening, triage, patient administration and follow-up planning. It may help flag possible orthopaedic issues, identify when more information is needed, or help the practice decide whether you should be contacted about an appointment or further review.

The AI tool is not a doctor, specialist, radiologist or substitute for professional judgment. It does not provide a final diagnosis, a radiology report, a prescription, or a treatment plan. It does not replace a consultation, physical examination, formal imaging review, or emergency care.

AI-assisted screening can be helpful, but it also has important limits. The output may be wrong, incomplete, delayed, or inappropriate for your specific situation. Results may be affected by poor image quality, incorrect positioning, cropped images, missing views, missing clinical history, unusual anatomy, previous surgery, implants, technical faults, or bias in the data on which the AI system was developed or tested. Different patient groups may not be represented equally in training data, which can affect performance.

A registered healthcare practitioner remains responsible for clinical decisions. Any AI-assisted output must be considered together with your medical history, examination findings, imaging quality, and clinical context. If you would like a human review, you may request one. No decision based solely on automated processing will be used to refuse, terminate or materially limit your access to ordinary care from the practice.

You do not have to use AI-assisted screening to contact the practice. If you do not want your upload to be processed by the AI tool, you may choose the ordinary booking or contact route instead. If you decline AI-assisted screening, this will not by itself prevent you from accessing ordinary care from the practice.

You may contact the practice to book a consultation without AI screening, or to request human review of a submission you have already made.

If you use this tool, the practice may process the information you submit, including your contact details, uploaded X-rays or scans, answers to questions, technical logs, timestamps and related communications. This may be processed by the practice and by authorised technology service providers acting on the practice's instructions or, where applicable, in their own regulated capacity. Health information is handled as sensitive personal information and is subject to confidentiality and security safeguards.

The practice processes health information where this is necessary for the proper treatment and care of patients, for the administration of the professional practice, for clinical follow-up, and where necessary to comply with legal and professional obligations. Where consent is required for a particular activity, including patient-facing AI use, the practice will ask for that consent.

Some technology providers used by the practice store or process information outside South Africa. The full list of Operators and sub-processors, what each one processes, where it processes information, and the safeguards in place is published in the Sub-Processor & Cross-Border Transfer Schedule. Where POPIA requires prior authorisation before a cross-border transfer, the practice will obtain that authorisation before the processing starts.

Information submitted through this tool may be kept as part of your patient record, screening record, or administrative record where appropriate. Records are retained in line with applicable legal, professional and operational requirements.

Do not use this tool in an emergency. If you have severe pain, serious bleeding, a suspected fracture or dislocation, sudden weakness, loss of function, signs of infection, chest pain, breathing difficulty, or any other urgent medical problem, call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency unit immediately.

You may ask for information about how your personal information is processed, request access to records through the proper legal process, request correction or deletion where the law allows, object to certain processing where applicable, and complain to the Information Regulator if you believe your information has been handled unlawfully.

Please read our Privacy Notice for more detail about your rights and how to exercise them.

If you have any questions about this AI Screening Disclaimer, or if you want to request human review instead of AI-assisted screening, please contact:

Information Officer

Dr CR Oosthuizen

Email

rudolf@doctoroosthuizen.com

Telephone

011-794-3371 / 011-794-3376

Consulting rooms

Johannesburg Surgical Hospital, 219 Beyers Naudé Drive, 2nd Floor, Suite 11, Northcliff, Randburg, 2195
Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital, Amplifier Road, Block D, Suite 21, Radiokop, Roodepoort, 1724

By using this upload tool, you confirm that you have read and understood this disclaimer and the Privacy Notice.