I would not feel I could write a website like this without over 20 years of practice experience in Obstetrics and Gynecology. This twenty years in the same place have given me wonderful long relationships with patients, and the learning that only this kind of experience can afford. My practice has accepted all comers, and with this has come women from all socioeconomic strata. Accordingly, we in the office have gleaned experience from those who had limited access to medical care, coming to us oftentimes with significant health challenges not seen in a well cared for population.

After all this time and experience, the "doctor patient relationship" abstractly referenced in medical school has become real. I do not exaggerate when I say it is the most important tool in my doctor bag. Medical students are taught the art of taking a medical history. We memorized a stereotypical list of categories about what to ask patients; i.e. medical conditions, surgeries, medications, allergies, etc. We were told to ask open ended questions and then guide the interview in later moments. These things are the necessary foundations for history taking. But who could describe the delicate art of getting someone to open up and tell you what is most important? I can't. I can say it has to do with approaching patients with an attitude of respect. Respect is a small and commonly used word. If you unpack it for the purposes of medical care, you find it entails first and foremost, acceptance. The Latin roots of the word respect indicate to see repeatedly. Thus, respect in this case includes seeing not only good traits but also shortcomings, and seeing these things together as a whole. Patients need to know that if we see them as they truly are, that we will still care for them as people. Then they can be confident that we will take the best care for them in a medical way. Additionally, they need to know this in the first few minutes of the visit.

Where a healthy doctor-patient relationship develops, good medical care can be delivered. A doctor-patient relationship is the foundation of good medical care. Without it, you cannot be sure of a thorough history, the patient's understanding and endorsement of what you recommend, or her compliance with treatments.

Besides a good history, medical care also involves the physical exam, as well as all sorts of diagnostic studies such as imaging and bloodwork. With all this amazing and ever improving diagnostic technology, it seems we could know everything about a patient. However, it is the face to face, hands on encounter, that often tells you the most about a patient who is ill. 

Good physicians can be seasoned or new, technical or intuitive. But good physicians share at least one thing in common, and that is that they assess before diagnosing, and they diagnose before treating. These are the necessary steps of medical care. To circumvent these would be to do the patient a disservice. 

This leads me to the main point of this page, which is that reading a website does not constitute medical care. This is fairly self evident. However physicians, myself included, feel obligated to spell it out. I see many harsh disclaimers on the webpages of other physicians. The terms of use are so full of disclaimers about the accuracy and applicability of what they have written on their website that they make the website sound dangerous or useless altogether. 

It is said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. In my experience, this can be very true. And that is just what this website is: a little information. I too will issue harsh disclaimers about the accuracy and applicability of the information on my website. But I will do my best to put all this information in the most appropriate and useful context possible. 

1. A little information is not medical care. 

This website is for informational and educational purposes. It does not provide medical advice to specific individuals, even to the patients in this practice. The contents of this website, www.drginanelson.com, which is owned and operated by Gina Nelson Media, LLC, its text, graphics, images and other content have not been evaluated by the any medical governing body such as the FDA, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), or the National Institute of Health. They are the product of my anecdotal experience, which, though helpful, do not carry a high level of evidence. 

You should seek routine medical attention on a regular basis with your own personal caregiver. You should be up to date with your medical checkups and inquire directly to your personal caregiver before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health program described in this or any other media materials including the internet. If you have active or bothersome symptoms you should contact your medical provider immediately. Most medical providers, including this office, have after hours answering services and would rather answer your question in a timely fashion than let a matter go unevaluated. If you have a medical emergency, of course you must dial 911 and seek assistance immediately. Although we promote patient empowerment and education, our office does not recommend self-management of one’s health care. 

2. Laws, Ownership and Use.

You agree to use www.drginanelson.com lawfully. Our content is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws under both United States and international laws, and contains trademarks and proprietary information. All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved to Gina Nelson Media, LLC, and its licensors. 

You may not copy, redistribute, publish or commercially utilize our content without the express written permission of Gina Nelson Media, LLC. However, Gina Nelson Media, LLC authorizes you to view or download a single copy of the material on our website solely for your personal, noncommercial use, so long as you do not remove any copyright or other proprietary rights notices contained in the content. You acknowledge that you do not acquire any ownership rights by downloading copyrighted material.  You may not modify any content which it is permissible to download or copy. 

3. Tech terms of use.

You agree not to hack, alter or modify any part of this website. The following is an incomplete list of activities which require the written permission of Gina Nelson Media, LLC : Using the site for commercial purposes, posting advertising on the site, selling access to the site. 

You agree not to use any malware on drginanelson.com. This includes but is not limited to bots, viruses, trojan horses, spiders, etc. Exceptions to this are granted to the operators of public search engines who have permission to access, use and copy materials from the website for the sole purpose of and only to the extent necessary for creating publicly available searchable indices of the materials, though not caches or archives of such material. Gina Nelson Media, LLC reserves the right to revoke these exceptions either generally or specifically.

 4. Personal information.

In your use of the website, you may have the opportunity to submit personal information such as with feedback forms. We will not sell your personal information. By the same turn, you may not access the site to harvest the personal information of others. Doing this or any other activity violating civil or criminal law violates the terms of use and will result in prosecution. 

You may post only as yourself. You may not post any copyrighted or trademarked material. Gina Nelson Media, LLC retains the right to not post user submissions, to edit submissions in any way, or to delete them for any reason. 

5. Lack of Warranty, Limitations of Liability.

Medico-legal liability as it is applied to formal office and hospital based medical care and is regulated though the courts. However, as mentioned above, this website does not constitute medical care. Gina Nelson Media, LLC. disclaims any warranty, expressed or implied, as to this website or its contents. It is provided on an "as is" basis and is used at the user's sole discretion and upon their own responsibility. Gina Nelson Media, LLC assumes no liability for any harm, loss or damage in association with the use of this website. You agree to hold harmless Gina Nelson Media, LLC for any harm, loss or damage in association with the use of this website. 

6. Consent.

To use this site, you must be at least 18 years of age, an emancipated minor, or have parental or legal guardian's consent to agree to the terms of use on this page. You must also affirm that you understand the terms of use and are able and willing to comply with them.