By joining and using any American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Online Community, you agree that you have read and will follow these rules and guidelines.
We have established this AGS Online Communities Participation Guideline (AOCPG) to preserve a climate that encourages both civil and fruitful dialogue. We reserve the right to suspend participation in AGS online communities by anyone who has been found to violate our Code of Conduct, this AOCPG for participation in communities, or the guidance provided in the online community (Legal Disclaimers).
American Geriatrics Society does not actively monitor the site for inappropriate postings and does not on its own undertake editorial control of postings. However, if any inappropriate posting is brought to the attention of American Geriatrics Society, we will take all appropriate action as delineated in this guideline and the Legal Disclaimers that are available in our online communities.
General Rules
- Include a signature tag on all messages. Include your name, affiliation, location.
- State concisely and clearly the topic of your comments in the subject line. This allows members to respond more appropriately to your posting and makes it easier for members to search the archives by subject.
- Include only the relevant portions of the original message in your reply. Delete any header information and put your response before the original posting.
- Only send a message to the entire list when it contains information that everyone can benefit from.
- Send messages such as "thanks for the information" or "me, too" to individuals--not to the entire list. Do this by using the "Reply to Sender" link to the left of every message.
- Do not send administrative messages, such as remove me from the list. Instead, use the web interface to change your settings or to remove yourself from a list. If you are changing e-mail addresses, you do not need to remove yourself from the list and rejoin under your new e-mail address. Simply change your settings.
- Warn other list subscribers of lengthy messages either in the subject line or at the beginning of the message body with a line that says, "Long Message."
Discussion Group Etiquette
- Don't challenge or attack others. The discussions and comments are meant to stimulate conversation; they are not meant to create contention. Let others have their say, just as you should have yours.
- Don't post commercial messages on any discussion list, resource library entry, or other area where others might see it. Contact people directly with product and service information if you believe it would help them.
- Use caution when discussing products. Information posted on the lists and in the libraries is available for all to see, and comments are subject to libel, slander, and antitrust laws.
- All defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials are strictly prohibited. Do not post anything that you would not want the world to see or that you would not want anyone to know came from you. Please note carefully all items listed in the disclaimer and legal rules below, particularly regarding the copyright ownership of information posted.
- Remember that other participants have the right to reproduce postings to this site unless you specify otherwise.
- Post your message or documents only to the most appropriate lists or libraries. Do not spam several lists or libraries with the same message.
- All messages must add to the body of knowledge. We reserve the right to reject any message for any reason.
- Express only your personal opinions and only represent yourself as an organizational spokesperson for the AGS or any other entity when it is appropriate to do so. If an Organizational entity is subject to the content you are creating, be clear and open about the fact that you are an Organization member and make it clear that your views do not represent those of the Organization, fellow employees, members, customers, suppliers, or people working on behalf of the Organization. If you do publish a blog or post online related to the work you do or subjects associated with the Organization, make it clear that you are not speaking on behalf of the Organization. It is best to include a disclaimer such as “The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of….”
Prohibited Content
- False and/or defamatory information.
- Content that is discriminatory, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy or right to publicity, or otherwise violative of any law.
- Content that infringes on copyrights, trademarks or trade secrets. Never disclose any material nonpublic information about your company or any other confidential information that is, or potentially is, proprietary, confidential, privileged, or sensitive. Posting should not risk noncompliance with laws respecting the security and confidentiality of such protected information. If you have signed a confidentiality agreement, abide by its terms.
- Content that infringes on patient confidentiality or the sanctity of protected health information (PHI) covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) or any other federal, state, or local law protecting patient anonymity. Posts should not reference patients or caregivers by name or by way of identifying or personal characteristics/information. PHI is any information that may reasonably allow someone to identify an individual. It is anything that is created or received by a health care provider, health plan, employer, or health care clearinghouse, and includes such things as Name, Address, Birthdates, and dates of service (admission, discharge, etc.), Phone numbers, E-mail addresses, Social security numbers, Health insurance plan information, and photos or videos. In addition, any information about the person's health status, treatments, prognosis, and payment should be protected. Should you submit personal information, including personal health information, regarding a patient or other third party, you are responsible for ensuring that such third parties have been informed of and have given their consent, to the extent required by law, to the disclosure of their personal information.
- Content that seek medical advice (consult your personal physician) or disclose personal health information.
- Content that promotes commercial services and products, or causes.
- Content that would constitute spamming (e.g., posting with such frequency or repetitiveness that others may be discouraged from posting, posts that are irrelevant to the topic and/or the American Geriatrics Society mission, and "follow me" posts) or trolling (defined as comments that appear intended to send the discussion in a fruitless direction).
You will ensure your postings are consistent with these policies. Inappropriate postings that may include discriminatory remarks, harassment, and threats of violence or similar inappropriate or unlawful conduct will not be tolerated and may subject you to disciplinary action. Potential disciplinary actions include immediate deletion of content that is in violation, requesting the accused individual to stop the harassing behavior, or removal/denial of access to AGS online platforms. For AGS members, in keeping with our By-Laws, we reserve the right to terminate membership.
Reporting a Violation
Acting in Good Faith
Anyone filing a verbal or written complaint concerning a violation or suspected violation is required to act in good faith and to have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Any unsubstantiated allegations which prove to have been made maliciously or to have been knowingly false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.
Confidentiality
Reports of violations or suspected violations may be submitted on a confidential basis by the person who experienced the violation. Such reports will be kept confidential to the extent possible consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation.
How to Make a Complaint
Any person who experiences a violation may report discrimination, harassment, or retaliation at any time (including during non-business hours) by postal mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the links and contact information listed below:
Mail Address:
American Geriatrics Society
40 Fulton St, Ste 809
New York, NY 10038
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Email: CEO@americangeriatrics.org
Phone: 212-308-1414, press 9
Handling of Reported Violations
AGS will acknowledge receipt of a report promptly and will investigate reports of conduct violations. We will make every effort to fairly review and investigate complaints and will share the results with both the individual who reported the complaint and the individual who has been accused of violating the code of conduct. We will handle the complaints confidentially but reserve the right to notify others if the complaint is serious enough to warrant further (legal) action. Anonymous complaints will also be investigated, however, there may be limitations in our ability to determine what further action (if any) needs to be taken.
AGS will take appropriate action once an investigation is complete with the goal of preventing, correcting, and when necessary and possible, disciplining behavior that violates the law and/or AGS policies and guidelines. Potential disciplinary actions include (requesting the accused individual to stop the harassing behavior, removal/denial of access to AGS online platforms. For AGS members, in keeping with our By-Laws, we reserve the right to terminate membership.