Our standards
Editorial policy
Health information affects real decisions. This page explains who writes ours, how it is checked, and what we will not publish.
Why we publish health information
We publish it so that people can understand their options and their rights before they speak to anyone. It is general information. It does not replace an assessment by a registered healthcare professional, and it cannot tell you whether a treatment is suitable for you.
Who writes it
Pages are written by the MedStar Women’s Clinic editorial team. First drafts are prepared from the sources listed below, with the assistance of AI writing tools, and are then edited by a person.
How it is checked
Health information is checked against the sources listed on each page and kept consistent with current South African law and clinical guidance. Where a page has been reviewed by a named clinician, their name, qualification and the review date are shown on the page.
The sources we rely on
We prioritise primary and authoritative sources, and we link to them so that you can read them yourself:
- Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act 92 of 1996 (as amended) — Republic of South Africa
- National Clinical Guideline for Implementation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act — National Department of Health, South Africa
- Abortion care guideline (2022) — World Health Organization
- Abortion — fact sheet — World Health Organization
- Family planning/contraception methods — fact sheet — World Health Organization
- General Ethical Guidelines for Good Practice in Telehealth (Booklet 10) — Health Professions Council of South Africa
- Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 — Republic of South Africa
- Information Regulator (South Africa) — Information Regulator
We do not copy text from other providers, and we do not cite sources we have not read.
How we keep it current
- Every health page shows the date it was last updated.
- Pages are revised when the law or clinical guidance changes.
- We change a page’s date only when its content has actually changed.
What we will not publish
- Guarantees or claims that any treatment is risk-free or painless.
- Claims that we are the “best” or “number one” provider.
- Invented or paid-for patient reviews. We do not publish testimonials at all.
- Photographs of models presented as our staff or patients. Stock photographs are labelled as illustrative.
- Online tools that claim to tell you whether you are eligible for treatment.
- Countdown timers, false urgency or pressure to decide.
Corrections
If you believe something on this website is inaccurate or out of date, please tell us. We will review it and correct it where necessary.