Terms and Conditions of Use

Deborah Kan Media PBC | beingpatient.com

Effective Date: July 1, 2026 | Last Updated: July 21, 2026

1. Introduction and Agreement to Terms

These Terms and Conditions of Use (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Deborah Kan Media PBC, a public benefit corporation (“Being Patient,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), governing your access to and use of:

The Being Patient website located at beingpatient.com and all subdomains (the “Site”);
Carey, our AI-powered care companion chatbot (the “Carey Service”);
Our email newsletter and related communications; and
Any other products, features, or services offered by Being Patient that link to these Terms (collectively, the “Services”).

By accessing or using the Services, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy (available at beingpatient.com/privacy-policy), and our AI Policy (available at beingpatient.com/our-ai-policy), each of which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

If you do not agree to these Terms, please discontinue use of the Services immediately.

2. Eligibility and Age Restriction

You must be at least 18 years of age to use the Services, including the Carey Service. By using the Services, you represent and warrant that you are 18 years of age or older and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement.

The Services are not directed at, and should not be used by, anyone under the age of 18. If we become aware that a user is under 18, we will terminate their access and delete any data collected in connection with their use.

If you are accessing the Services on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms, and references to “you” include that organization.

3. Description of Services

3.1 The Being Patient Website

Being Patient provides editorially independent journalism, educational resources, expert interviews, and community information relating to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, brain health, and related conditions. All editorial content is produced by human journalists in accordance with our AI Policy and is subject to our editorial standards.

3.2 The Carey Service

Carey is an AI-powered care companion tool designed to help users navigate Being Patient’s journalism and educational content. Carey uses artificial intelligence to respond to questions about Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, caregiving, brain health, and related topics. Carey’s knowledge base is derived from Being Patient’s published journalism and vetted educational resources.

The Carey Service is subject to specific terms set out in Section 9 of these Terms. Please read Section 9 and the medical disclaimer in Section 10 before using Carey.

3.3 Email Newsletter

Being Patient offers a free weekly newsletter covering brain health research, Alzheimer’s disease news, and dementia-related information. Subscription is voluntary and governed by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

3.4 Future Services

Being Patient may introduce additional features and services in the future, including subscription-based tiers, account-based features, and expanded Carey functionality. Additional terms applicable to such features will be published and will form part of these Terms at the time of their introduction. Material changes to these Terms will be communicated in accordance with Section 17.

4. Acceptable Use of the Services

4.1 Permitted Use

You may use the Services for lawful, personal, non-commercial purposes in accordance with these Terms. You are permitted to read, share, and engage with Being Patient’s content subject to our republishing policy available at beingpatient.com/republishing-our-content.

4.2 Prohibited Conduct

You agree that you will not:

Use the Services for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable local, national, or international law or regulation;
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Services, or to any systems or networks connected to the Services;
Use automated tools, bots, scrapers, or crawlers to extract content from the Site or to interact with the Carey Service at scale without our prior written consent;
Submit content to the Carey Service that is false, misleading, abusive, harassing, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable;
Attempt to manipulate, jailbreak, or circumvent the safety guidelines or intended functionality of the Carey Service;
Use the Carey Service to attempt to obtain advice for purposes other than personal information and support related to Alzheimer’s, dementia, brain health, and caregiving;
Impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity;
Engage in any conduct that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the Services or servers or networks connected to the Services;
Remove, alter, or obscure any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices on the Site; or
Use the Services in any manner that could bring Being Patient into disrepute.

5. Intellectual Property

5.1 Ownership

All content on the Site, including but not limited to articles, interviews, videos, graphics, logos, and the compilation and arrangement of all content, is the property of Deborah Kan Media PBC or its licensors and is protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

5.2 Limited License to Users

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Site and its content for your personal, non-commercial use, subject to these Terms. This license does not include the right to: (a) modify or create derivative works of the Site or its content; (b) use content for commercial purposes without our prior written consent; or (c) systematically download or extract content.

5.3 Carey Output

Responses generated by the Carey Service are produced by artificial intelligence using Being Patient’s content as a knowledge source. Being Patient does not claim copyright in AI-generated responses. However, you acknowledge that such responses are generated for informational purposes only and may not be accurate, complete, or up to date. See Section 10 regarding the limitations of Carey’s responses.

5.4 User Submissions

By submitting content to the Carey Service, including questions and conversation messages, you grant Being Patient a limited, worldwide, royalty-free license to use that content solely for the purposes of operating and improving the Carey Service, as described in our Privacy Policy. You represent and warrant that you have the right to submit any content you provide.

5.5 Republishing

Requests to republish Being Patient’s editorial content are governed by our republishing policy at beingpatient.com/republishing-our-content.

6. Third-Party Links and Content

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, resources, and services that are not owned or controlled by Being Patient. We provide these links for convenience and informational purposes only. Being Patient does not endorse, and has no control over, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites.

You acknowledge and agree that Being Patient is not responsible or liable for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with your use of or reliance on any third-party content, goods, or services available through any such links.

Please refer to our Privacy Policy for information about how advertising data is collected and used.

7. Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and sharing of your personal information, including information shared through the Carey Service, is governed by our Privacy Policy, available at beingpatient.com/privacy-policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

By using the Services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in the Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the Privacy Policy, please do not use the Services.

8. Email Newsletter

By subscribing to the Being Patient newsletter, you agree to receive our weekly email communications covering brain health news, Alzheimer’s research, and dementia-related content. You may also opt in to receive quarterly updates on clinical trials.

You may unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email we send. Unsubscribing from the newsletter does not delete any other account or data associated with your use of the Services.

Our newsletter is produced by human journalists in accordance with our AI Policy. We do not publish AI-generated editorial content.

9. Terms Specific to the Carey AI Service

This section contains important terms governing your use of Carey, Being Patient’s AI-powered care companion. Please read this section and Section 10 carefully before using Carey.

9.1 Nature of the Carey Service

Carey is an artificial intelligence tool powered by third-party AI technology. Carey is designed to assist users in finding information within Being Patient’s journalism and educational content relating to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, brain health, and caregiving. Carey is intended as an informational support tool only.

Carey is not a licensed medical professional, therapist, counselor, or healthcare provider of any kind. Your use of the Carey Service does not create a patient-provider relationship, a therapist-client relationship, or any other professional relationship between you and Being Patient.

9.2 Accuracy and Limitations of Carey

You acknowledge and agree that:

Carey’s responses are generated by artificial intelligence and may contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies;
Carey’s knowledge is based on Being Patient’s published content and may not reflect the most current medical research or clinical guidance;
AI systems, including Carey, can produce responses that are plausible-sounding but factually incorrect (“hallucinations”);
Carey’s responses should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; and
Being Patient makes no warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or fitness for any particular purpose of Carey’s responses.

9.3 Your Responsibilities When Using Carey

When using the Carey Service, you agree that you will:

Use Carey only for lawful purposes related to obtaining information and support about Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, brain health, and caregiving;
Not attempt to manipulate Carey to produce responses outside its intended purpose;
Not submit any content through Carey that you do not have the right to share;
Not use Carey in any emergency situation — please call 911 or your local emergency services in any emergency; and
Exercise your own judgment and consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical or care decisions.

9.4 Data Collection Through Carey

When you use the Carey Service, we collect and store your conversation data, including any personal or health-related information you choose to share. This data is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Please review the Privacy Policy carefully before sharing sensitive information through Carey.

As of the effective date of these Terms, Carey is available without requiring you to create an account. Conversations are not permanently linked to your name or email unless you provide that information within the conversation. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for full details on data retention and your rights.

9.5 Availability and Modification

Being Patient reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Carey Service or any features thereof at any time, with or without notice, and without liability to you. We do not guarantee that the Carey Service will be available at any particular time or that it will be free from errors or interruptions.

9.6 Future Subscription Features

Being Patient intends to introduce optional paid subscription tiers that will provide enhanced Carey functionality, including persistent memory, care planning tools, and other features. When subscription features are introduced, additional terms will apply and will be presented to you at the time of subscription. Your continued use of any subscription features will constitute acceptance of those additional terms.

10. Medical Disclaimer

IMPORTANT: Please read this section carefully before using the Carey Service or relying on any content on the Being Patient website.

Being Patient is a journalism and educational platform. Nothing on the Site or in the Carey Service constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, prognosis, or a recommendation for any specific treatment or course of action.

The Carey Service is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, neurologist, geriatrician, or other licensed healthcare professional regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on the Site or received from the Carey Service.

If you or someone in your care is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Do not use the Carey Service in an emergency situation.

Being Patient and Deborah Kan Media PBC expressly disclaim all liability for any adverse outcomes, decisions, or actions taken based on information obtained through the Site or the Carey Service.

11. Disclaimers of Warranty and Limitation of Liability

11.1 Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICES, INCLUDING THE SITE AND THE CAREY SERVICE, ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, BEING PATIENT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

Being Patient does not warrant that: (a) the Services will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; (b) any information obtained through the Services will be accurate, complete, or reliable; or (c) any defects in the Services will be corrected.

11.2 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL DEBORAH KAN MEDIA PBC, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH:

Your access to or use of, or inability to access or use, the Services;
Any content obtained from the Services, including responses from the Carey Service;
Any medical or care decisions made in reliance on information obtained from the Services;
Unauthorized access to or alteration of your data; or
Any other matter relating to the Services.

In no event shall Being Patient’s total liability to you for all claims arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services exceed the greater of: (a) the amount you paid to Being Patient in the twelve months preceding the claim; or (b) one hundred US dollars (US $100).

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or liabilities. In such jurisdictions, our liability is limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.

11.3 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Deborah Kan Media PBC and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of or in any way connected with: (a) your access to or use of the Services; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any rights of a third party; or (d) any content you submit through the Services.

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

12.1 Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to them or the Services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

12.2 Dispute Resolution

We encourage you to contact us at info@beingpatient.com in the first instance to resolve any dispute informally. If informal resolution is not possible, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be resolved as follows:

For users located in the United States: by binding individual arbitration administered by JAMS under its Streamlined Arbitration Rules, except that either party may seek injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction for claims relating to intellectual property or breach of confidentiality obligations. YOU AGREE TO WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR CLASS-WIDE ARBITRATION.
For users located in the European Union: by the courts of competent jurisdiction in your EU member state of residence, in accordance with applicable EU consumer protection laws.
For users located in the United Kingdom: by the courts of England and Wales, or by your local courts if required under applicable UK consumer protection law.

13. Financial Contributions (Donations)

Being Patient welcomes financial contributions to support its mission of providing independent journalism on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and brain health. The following terms govern all donations to Deborah Kan Media PBC.

13.1 Agreement

By making a donation, you agree and acknowledge that:

The donation is provided to Deborah Kan Media PBC as an irrevocable gift, subject to your right to receive a refund as described in Section 13.4 and Deborah Kan Media PBC’s right to return any donation at its discretion;
The donation may be used by Deborah Kan Media PBC for any lawful purposes in support of its operations, including editorial, technology, and community programs; and
Your donation does not entitle you to any editorial influence, special access to Services, or other benefit, except where Being Patient expressly offers such benefits in connection with a specific giving program.

13.2 Recurring Contributions

If you establish a recurring monthly contribution:

You agree to pay your selected contribution amount on a rolling monthly basis until cancelled;
You must provide complete and accurate payment information. Payment may be made by credit or debit card;
Recurring contribution amounts cannot be changed without cancelling the existing contribution and establishing a new one; and
Your contribution will continue unless ended by either party in accordance with Section 13.4.

13.3 Eligibility and Limits

Donations are accepted from individuals and legal entities worldwide. Individual donors must be 18 years of age or older. The maximum aggregate donation from any single donor is $2,000 (two thousand US dollars).

13.4 Refunds and Cancellation

Deborah Kan Media PBC reserves the right to refuse and return any contribution at its absolute discretion, including where accepting the contribution would conflict with its mission, values, or editorial independence.

Donors may request a refund within 14 days of payment by emailing info@beingpatient.com. Refund requests received after 14 days will not be eligible. Any returned contributions will be repaid to the original payment method.

Recurring contributions may be cancelled at any time by emailing info@beingpatient.com.

13.5 Transparency

Being Patient reserves the right to request the name, contact details, and other information from any contributor to determine the provenance of a contribution. If a contributor refuses to provide requested information, Being Patient may decline and return the contribution.

13.6 Tax Treatment

Deborah Kan Media PBC is a public benefit corporation and is not a charitable organization under US federal or state law. Donations to Deborah Kan Media PBC are not tax-deductible charitable contributions. Donors should consult their own tax advisor regarding the tax treatment of their contributions.

13.7 Confidentiality

Contributors shall not publicize their contribution or use it to market themselves or any connected business without the prior written consent of Deborah Kan Media PBC.

14. User Accounts (Future Feature)

Being Patient does not currently require users to create an account to access the Site or the Carey Service. We intend to introduce optional account registration in the future to enable features such as persistent conversation memory, personalized care plans, and subscription management.

When account functionality is introduced, additional terms will apply, including terms governing account creation, security obligations, and account termination. Those terms will be presented to you at the time of account registration and will form part of these Terms.

If you create an account in the future, you will be responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.

15. Termination and Suspension

Being Patient reserves the right to suspend or terminate your access to any or all of the Services, at any time and without prior notice, if we reasonably believe that you have violated these Terms or that your use of the Services poses a risk to the security or integrity of the Services or to other users.

Upon termination, all licenses granted to you under these Terms will immediately cease. Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including Sections 5 (Intellectual Property), 10 (Medical Disclaimer), 11 (Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability), 12 (Governing Law), and 16 (General Provisions).

16. General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and the AI Policy (each incorporated by reference), constitute the entire agreement between you and Being Patient with respect to the Services and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, and representations relating to the same subject matter.

16.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

16.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative of Being Patient.

16.4 Assignment

You may not assign your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. Being Patient may assign its rights and obligations under these Terms without restriction, including in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

16.5 Force Majeure

Being Patient shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, pandemic, government action, or internet service failures.

16.6 Contact

For any questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

Deborah Kan Media PBC

Email: info@beingpatient.com

Mailing Address: 2443 Fillmore Street #175, San Francisco,CA 94115

17. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this document and, where practicable and required by applicable law, notify you by email or by a prominent notice on the Site.

Your continued use of the Services after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, please discontinue use of the Services.

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically. The current version will always be available at beingpatient.com/terms-and-conditions.