Is what I say kept private?

Yes. Your records and what you say stay confidential, as the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 requires. The rare exceptions, such as a serious risk to your safety, are explained at your first visit, before anything else.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can book directly, for yourself or for someone in your family.

Will I have to take medication?

Not necessarily. Medication is one option among several, and any decision about it is made with you, with the reasons laid out. Nothing is prescribed in a hurry.

Any past prescriptions or reports, and a list of the medicines you take now. For a video consultation, a quiet room where you won't be overheard.

Can I come with someone?

Yes. Bring whoever makes it easier. Part of the conversation may still be just the two of you, and that is normal.

Privacy policy | HOPE by Dr. Kay

This policy explains what HOPE by Dr. Kay (Dr. Kashish Singhal, the data fiduciary under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023) collects when you use hopebydrkay.com, why, and what your rights are.

What is collected

To book: your name, phone number, email address, the type of consultation and the slot you choose. If you book for someone else, their name.
To pay: payment is processed by Razorpay. The practice receives a confirmation and a transaction reference, never your card or bank details.
In a consultation: clinical notes, which are health records. These are kept by the doctor under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and medical council rules, not on this website.
Automatically: basic technical logs (such as IP address and browser type) from the hosting provider, used to keep the site running and secure.

The booking form deliberately does not ask why you are coming in. That conversation happens with the doctor.

Why it is used

To confirm and manage your appointment, send you reminders and the video link, take payment and issue refunds, keep the site secure, and meet legal and medical record-keeping duties. Your information is not sold, and it is not used for advertising.

Who it is shared with

Only with services needed to run the practice: the payment gateway (Razorpay), the hosting, database and email providers, and the video platform used for online consultations (Google Meet). Each handles data under its own privacy terms. Information is shared with anyone else only with your consent or where the law requires it.

How long it is kept

Booking and payment records are kept for eight years, in line with tax and medical record-keeping requirements. Clinical records are kept for the period required by medical council rules. Technical logs are kept briefly and then deleted.

Your rights

You can ask to see the personal information held about you, have it corrected, or have it deleted where the law allows. You can withdraw consent for reminders at any time. To exercise any of these, write to hello@hopebydrkay.com. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may complain to the Data Protection Board of India.

Children

Bookings for anyone under 18 are made by a parent or legal guardian, whose consent covers the information collected.

Security

The site is served over HTTPS. Booking data is stored with access limited to the doctor and anyone who helps her run the practice, all bound by the same duty of confidentiality. No method of storage is perfectly secure, and you will be told promptly if a breach affects your information.

Changes

This policy will be updated as the practice or the law changes. The date at the top shows the current version.