Abuse Policy

Last updated: 26/06/2026
Applies to all members of the Medibuddy community

1. Our commitment

Medibuddy exists to help people prepare for medical interviews in a supportive, professional environment. We want every member to feel safe, respected, and able to take part without fear of harassment, abuse, or unfair treatment.

This policy explains what we expect from members, what is not acceptable, how to report a concern, and how we respond when our community standards are not met.

2. Where this policy applies

This policy applies to every part of the community and every way you interact with other members, including:

• Discussion posts and comments
• Live chat, direct messages, and study group conversations
• Video calls and mock interviews
• Peer feedback you give or receive
• Shared documents, recordings, and resources

It applies whether interactions take place publicly or privately on the platform.

Behaviour outside the platform may also be considered where it directly affects the safety, wellbeing, or participation of members within the community.

3. What we expect from you

We ask every member to help create a respectful learning environment by following these principles:

Be respectful. Treat everyone with courtesy, even when you disagree.

Be constructive. Critique the work or the answer—not the person. Honest, specific and respectful feedback helps everyone improve.

Respect disagreement. Professional discussion, respectful debate and constructive criticism are encouraged. Disagreement or feedback does not amount to abuse simply because someone finds it uncomfortable or disagrees with it.

Be professional. Many members are training for, or already working in, regulated healthcare professions. We expect everyone to demonstrate the professionalism, integrity, respect and confidentiality expected in those roles.

Protect confidentiality. If you discuss clinical experiences, anonymise them fully. Never share patient-identifiable information.

Respect privacy. Do not share, record, screenshot or distribute another member's messages, mock interviews, feedback or other contributions outside the community without their explicit permission.

Assume good faith where reasonable. Most members are here to learn and support one another. However, repeated or harmful behaviour should always be reported rather than dismissed.

4. What counts as abuse

The examples below are not exhaustive. Behaviour that has a similar harmful effect or undermines the safety of our community may also breach this policy.

Harassment and bullying

• Repeated unwanted contact, intimidation or targeting of another member
• Demeaning, humiliating or belittling others
• Encouraging others to pile on, isolate or harass someone

Discrimination and hate

• Abuse, slurs or hostility based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age or any other protected characteristic
• Content that promotes hatred, discrimination or exclusion

Threats, violence and sexual misconduct

• Threats of violence or harm
• Sexual harassment or unwanted sexual advances
• Sharing, requesting or threatening to share indecent or sexually explicit imagery

Abusive communication

• Personal attacks or insults
• Aggressive, hostile or intimidating language directed at another member
• Behaviour intended to deliberately disrupt discussions, undermine learning, or sabotage another member's participation or feedback

Privacy and confidentiality breaches

• Sharing another person's personal information without their permission (doxxing)
• Sharing patient-identifiable information
• Recording or distributing video calls, mock interviews or private conversations without the explicit consent of everyone involved

Dishonesty and integrity

• Impersonating another person, organisation or professional role
• Sharing leaked, embargoed or confidential interview questions or assessment materials
• Plagiarising another person's work or presenting it as your own

Misuse of the platform

• Spam, scams, phishing or malicious links
• Unauthorised advertising, self-promotion or soliciting members for paid services
• Attempting to bypass safety features, suspensions or other enforcement measures

5. Reporting concerns

If you experience or witness behaviour that may breach this policy, you can:

• Use the [Report] button on the relevant post, message or profile; or
• Contact us directly at info@medibuddy.co.uk.

When making a report, it is helpful to include who was involved, where the incident occurred, and any screenshots or links that may assist our review.

We handle reports as confidentially as reasonably possible and will only disclose information where necessary to investigate a report, comply with legal obligations, or protect the safety of others.

You will never be penalised for making a report in good faith.

Deliberately false or malicious reports intended to harass, retaliate against or disadvantage another member may themselves breach this policy.

6. How we respond

We review every report carefully.

When deciding what action to take, we may consider factors including:

• the seriousness of the behaviour
• whether it appears intentional
• its impact on others
• whether similar behaviour has occurred before
• whether the member took responsibility or attempted to resolve the issue

Where appropriate, we aim to respond proportionately. Depending on the circumstances, we may:

• Issue a private warning and request that the behaviour stops
• Remove or edit content
• Temporarily mute or restrict an account
• Suspend an account
• Permanently remove a member from the community

Some behaviour may result in immediate suspension or permanent removal without prior warning. This includes serious threats of violence, sexual harassment, hate speech, doxxing, or serious or deliberate breaches of confidentiality.

Where conduct appears unlawful or creates a serious risk to patient safety or the safety of others, we may, where appropriate and lawful, notify the relevant platform, employer, professional regulator or law enforcement agency.

Context matters. We consider the full circumstances of each case, and not every breach will result in the same outcome.

7. Appeals

If you believe we have made a decision in error, you may appeal by contacting info@medibuddy.co.uk within 14 days of the decision.

Please explain why you believe the decision should be reconsidered and provide any additional information you think is relevant.

Where possible, appeals will be reviewed by a different member of the team who was not involved in the original decision.

8. Changes to this policy

As Medibuddy continues to develop, we may update this policy from time to time.

When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last updated" date above and notify members through the platform where appropriate.

9. Questions

If anything in this policy is unclear, or you have suggestions for improving it, please contact us at info@medibuddy.co.uk.

Thank you for helping us build a safe, respectful and supportive community for everyone preparing for medical interviews.