TERMS OF USE — askMEL: Medical Empowerment Liaison
Last Updated: May 23, 2026 | Version 1.0 | Effective Date: May 23, 2026
THE SHORT VERSION
✅ Use MEL responsibly for your own health tracking and appointment preparation
✅ You own your data — we don't
✅ MEL is NOT medical advice — always consult a qualified healthcare provider
✅ Check local laws before recording in medical settings
✅ Research participation is optional and always anonymous
✅ Back up your device — we cannot recover lost data
ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS
By downloading, installing, or using the MEL mobile application ("MEL," "the App," "we," "us," or "our"), operated by The Webb Project LLC d/b/a askMEL, you ("User," "you," or "your") agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms").
If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use MEL.
WHAT MEL DOES
MEL is a personal patient advocacy and appointment companion tool designed to help you:
✅ Prepare for medical appointments with personalized pre-visit planning
✅ Capture visit notes via voice-to-text (no audio stored)
✅ Track symptoms and health patterns over time
✅ Receive plain-language summaries of your appointments
✅ Build self-advocacy skills and confidence in healthcare settings
✅ Optionally contribute anonymized data to healthcare research
MEL is NOT
❌ A substitute for professional medical advice
❌ A diagnostic tool
❌ A treatment recommendation system
❌ A doctor-patient communication platform
❌ An official medical records system
❌ A HIPAA-covered cloud storage service
ELIGIBILITY
You must be at least 13 years old to use MEL. If you are between 13 and 18, you must have parental or guardian consent. If you are using MEL on behalf of someone else as a caregiver or proxy, you must have their permission.
YOUR ACCOUNT & PROFILE
MEL creates a local profile on your device during onboarding. No cloud account or email registration is required. Your profile is stored only on your device and in iCloud Backup if you have that enabled.
You are responsible for keeping your device secure (passcode, Face ID, Touch ID) and protecting access to your MEL data.
Deleting Your Account:
- Open your Profile
- Tap "Sign Out"
- Confirm deletion
This permanently deletes all local data and cannot be undone.
YOUR DATA & PRIVACY
You own all data you create in MEL — including voice-to-text transcriptions, text notes, photos, symptom tracking data, and pre-visit plans. We do not claim ownership of your health data.
All health data is stored locally on your device using iOS's secure storage. MEL does not sync your recordings or notes to our servers. For full details, see our Privacy Policy at askMEL.app/privacy-policy.
ACCEPTABLE USE
You may use MEL to:
✅ Record your own medical visits (with provider permission if required by local law)
✅ Track your personal health symptoms and patterns
✅ Prepare for appointments and review your health history
✅ Contribute to health research (opt-in only)
You may NOT use MEL to:
❌ Record others without their explicit consent
❌ Record in locations where recording is prohibited by law
❌ Store, share, or transmit illegal content
❌ Violate healthcare provider policies on recording
❌ Attempt to diagnose yourself or others
❌ Replace professional medical care
❌ Reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to hack the App
❌ Impersonate others or provide false information
RECORDING CONSENT & LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
You are solely responsible for complying with all applicable laws regarding recording in your jurisdiction.
— One-Party Consent States: You may record if you are a party to the conversation — Two-Party / All-Party Consent States: All participants must consent (examples include California, Florida, and Illinois)
We are not liable if you record illegally. Check your local laws and your healthcare provider's policies before recording. Some hospitals and clinics prohibit recording — always check facility policies and ask permission from your healthcare provider where required.
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
MEL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. MEL's AI features are for informational and organizational purposes only. Advocacy suggestions are educational, not prescriptive. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical decisions. Using MEL does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and the creators of MEL or any AI or algorithm used by MEL.
IN CASE OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CALL 911 OR YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY NUMBER IMMEDIATELY. Do not rely on MEL for emergencies.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
MEL and all related content — including design, code, algorithms, and branding — are owned by The Webb Project LLC d/b/a askMEL and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or reverse-engineer MEL or use MEL's name or logo without written permission.
You retain all rights to your own recordings, notes, and data.
RESEARCH PARTICIPATION
Contributing to research is 100% voluntary. You can opt in or out at any time from your Profile settings. If you contribute, anonymized data may be used for academic research, improving MEL's features, and public health insights. You will not receive compensation for research participation.
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
MEL IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE WEBB PROJECT LLC d/b/a askMEL SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA OR RELIANCE ON MEL FOR MEDICAL DECISIONS. TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED $100 USD OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR MEL, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Webb Project LLC d/b/a askMEL, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use or misuse of MEL, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any applicable law.
THIRD-PARTY SERVICES
MEL may integrate with Apple iCloud. Your use of these services is subject to their own terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for third-party services.
APPLE APP STORE TERMS
Your use of MEL is also subject to Apple's App Store Terms of Service. In any conflict, Apple's terms govern with respect to app distribution and purchases.
CHANGES TO THESE TERMS
We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via in-app notification with a new "Last Updated" date. Continued use of MEL after changes constitutes acceptance. If you do not agree to updated Terms, you must stop using MEL.
TERMINATION
You may stop using MEL at any time by deleting the app from your device or signing out to delete local data. We may suspend or terminate your access if you violate these Terms, engage in illegal activity, or if we are required to do so by law. If we discontinue MEL, we will provide 30 days notice.
GOVERNING LAW
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes shall first be addressed through informal resolution by contacting us. If informal resolution fails, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Marion County, Indiana. You agree to resolve disputes individually, not as part of a class action.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full effect. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and MEL regarding the App.
ACCESSIBILITY
We strive to make MEL accessible to all users. MEL is designed as an ADA-aligned assistive tool. If you encounter accessibility issues, please contact us at help@askMEL.app.
BY USING MEL, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF USE.
CONTACT US
Email: help@askMEL.app Website: www.askMEL.app Address: Indianapolis, IN 46260 The Webb Project LLC d/b/a askMEL — Medical Empowerment Liaison
DISCLAIMER:
MEL is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In case of medical emergency, call 911 immediately.