Olin Library: Consumer Health: HONcode

In the Health on the Net Foundation Web site, you can do a search to identify whether a medical site has been certified by them.  Also, HON-certified Web sites normally carry the HONcode on their home page.

• Authoritative

Indicate the qualifications of the authors

• Complimentarity

Information should support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship

• Privacy

Respect the privacy and confidentiality of personal data submitted to the site by the visitor

• Attribution

Cite the source(s) of published information, date and medical and health pages 

• Justifiability

Site must back up claims relating to benefits and performance

• Transparency

Accessible presentation, accurate email contact

• Financial disclosure

Identify funding sources

• Advertising policy

Clearly distinguish advertising from editorial content