Privacy Policy

Dorothy Lyons Nutrition
Last updated: August 15, 2026

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​Dorothy Lyons Nutrition is committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining the confidentiality and security of your personal information and personal health information.

As a Registered Dietitian practising in Ontario, Dorothy Lyons, RD handles personal health information in accordance with applicable privacy legislation, including Ontario's Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), professional standards established by the College of Dietitians of Ontario, and other applicable privacy laws.

This Privacy Policy explains how information may be collected, used, stored and disclosed when you visit this website, contact Dorothy Lyons Nutrition, download a resource, book an appointment or receive nutrition services.

1. Privacy Contact

For Dorothy Lyons Nutrition, the Privacy Contact and Health Information Custodian is:

Dorothy Lyons, RD
Dorothy Lyons Nutrition
Email: info@dorothylyonsrd.com

Questions, concerns, requests to access or correct your records, or privacy complaints may be directed to the email address above.

2. Information We May Collect

The information collected depends on how you interact with Dorothy Lyons Nutrition.

Personal and contact information

This may include:

• Name

• Email address

• Telephone number

• Date of birth

• Mailing or billing information

• Appointment and scheduling information

• Information submitted through website forms, email or booking forms

Personal health information

When you become a client, information required to provide dietetic care may include:

• Health and medical history

• Medications and supplements

• Allergies and intolerances

• Laboratory values or medical reports

• Nutrition and dietary history

• Weight, body measurements or other health-related information

• Symptoms and health concerns

• Lifestyle information relevant to nutrition care

• Family health history where relevant

• Nutrition assessments, recommendations, care plans and progress notes

• Correspondence related to your care

• Referral information

• Records of appointments and services provided

Only information reasonably necessary for providing care or fulfilling other legitimate purposes is collected.

Billing and financial information

Information relating to payments, invoices, receipts or insurance reimbursement may also be collected and maintained as required for business, taxation, professional and record-keeping purposes.

3. Why We Collect and Use Information

Personal information and personal health information may be collected and used to:

• Provide Registered Dietitian assessments, nutrition counselling and follow-up care

• Develop and document individualized nutrition recommendations and care plans

• Communicate with you about appointments and your care

• Coordinate care with other health professionals when appropriate and permitted

• Schedule, confirm or change appointments

• Maintain required client health records

• Process payments and issue receipts

• Provide documentation requested for insurance reimbursement

• Respond to questions or inquiries

• Meet legal, regulatory, professional and quality-assurance obligations

• Maintain the safety, security and operation of the practice

• Investigate or manage privacy, safety or professional concerns

• Fulfil other purposes permitted or required by law

Dorothy Lyons Nutrition collects, uses and discloses only the amount of personal health information reasonably necessary for the intended purpose.

4. Consent

Your knowledge and consent are obtained for the collection, use and disclosure of personal information where required.

In many circumstances, consent may be implied when information is collected, used or shared for the purpose of providing health care. Express consent will be obtained when required by law or when information is to be used or disclosed for a purpose outside the provision of health care.

You may ask questions about how your information will be used and may withdraw or limit your consent, subject to legal, regulatory or professional requirements.

Withdrawing consent may affect the ability of Dorothy Lyons Nutrition to provide certain services.

Where an individual is unable to provide consent, an authorized substitute decision-maker may exercise privacy rights on that person's behalf where permitted by law.

5. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

Dorothy Lyons Nutrition does not sell client personal health information.

Information may be disclosed:

• To another health professional involved in your care where consent is implied or otherwise permitted by law

• To a person or organization you have specifically authorized

• To an insurer or other third party when you provide appropriate consent

• To service providers that assist with functions such as secure health-record management, appointment scheduling, payment processing, website hosting or technology support

• To the College of Dietitians of Ontario or another regulatory body when required

• Where disclosure is required or permitted by law

• In circumstances involving a significant risk of serious bodily harm where disclosure is legally permitted or required

Third-party providers are provided only with information reasonably required to perform their services and are expected to handle information appropriately and securely.

6. Electronic Health Records and Virtual Care

Dorothy Lyons Nutrition provides virtual nutrition services and uses electronic systems to manage appointments, clinical records and communications.

Reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards are used to protect personal health information against theft, loss, unauthorized access, copying, modification, use or disclosure.

Clinical information should, whenever reasonably possible, be exchanged through secure systems or other appropriate communication methods.

Regular email, text messaging and social media are not completely secure. Clients are encouraged not to send highly sensitive personal health information through ordinary email, social-media direct messages or public social-media comments.

Where a secure client portal or other secure communication method is available, it should be used for sensitive clinical information.

Virtual appointments should be attended from a private location whenever possible. Clients are encouraged to take reasonable steps to protect their own privacy during virtual care.

Virtual appointments will not be recorded by Dorothy Lyons Nutrition unless the client has provided appropriate informed consent in advance.

7. Website, Forms and General Personal Information

When you use dorothylyonsrd.com, certain non-clinical information may be collected automatically or voluntarily.

This can include information submitted through:

• Contact forms

• Free-resource or guide sign-ups

• Appointment links

• Newsletter or email sign-ups

• Website analytics

• Cookies or similar technologies

Technical information may include information such as browser or device type, approximate geographic location, referring website, pages viewed and how visitors interact with the website.

This information may be used to operate and improve the website, understand how visitors find and use the website, evaluate website performance and provide requested resources or communications.

Submitting a general website contact form does not create a dietitian-client relationship.

Please avoid including sensitive personal health information in general website forms unless the form is specifically intended and appropriately secured for that purpose.

8. Email Communications, Free Resources and Marketing

If you voluntarily request a free resource, subscribe to email communications or otherwise consent to receive non-clinical communications, your contact information may be used to provide the requested information and related communications.

You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe option provided or by contacting info@dorothylyonsrd.com.

Choosing not to receive promotional or educational emails will not affect your ability to receive dietetic care.

Personal health information will not be used for marketing purposes without consent where such consent is required.

9. Third-Party Services and Links

Dorothy Lyons Nutrition may use trusted third-party technology and service providers to support the operation of the practice, including services for:

• Electronic health records and practice management

• Online appointment booking

• Virtual appointments

• Payment processing

• Website hosting

• Email delivery

• Website analytics

• Forms and online resources

These providers may process certain information in accordance with their own privacy practices and contractual obligations.

The Dorothy Lyons Nutrition website may also contain links to external websites or services. Dorothy Lyons Nutrition is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of websites operated by third parties.

10. Cookies and Analytics

The website may use cookies and similar technologies that help the website function, remember preferences and understand how visitors use the site.

Analytics services may collect information such as device and browser information, approximate location, pages visited and interactions with the website.

You may be able to limit or disable cookies through your browser or device settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

11. Safeguarding Your Information

Dorothy Lyons Nutrition takes reasonable measures to safeguard information under its custody or control.

Depending on the type of information, safeguards may include:

• Password-protected accounts and devices

• Access controls

• Secure electronic health-record systems

• Appropriate backup practices

• Secure disposal of records

• Limiting access to information to those who require it

• Privacy and confidentiality requirements for service providers

• Maintaining appropriate software and device security

• Procedures for responding to suspected privacy breaches

No electronic system can guarantee absolute security; however, reasonable steps are taken to reduce privacy and security risks.

12. Record Retention and Destruction

Clinical and financial records are retained in accordance with the College of Dietitians of Ontario's professional record-keeping requirements and applicable law.

For adult clients, records are generally retained for at least 10 years following the client's last visit.

For clients who were under 18 years of age at their last visit, records are generally retained for at least 10 years after the client turns, or would have turned, 18 years of age.

When records are no longer required to be retained, they are securely destroyed, deleted or anonymized as appropriate.

Non-clinical information, such as general website inquiries or marketing records, is retained only as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected or as otherwise required by law.

13. Accessing or Correcting Your Health Record

You have the right, subject to limited exceptions under applicable law, to request access to personal health information about you that is held by Dorothy Lyons Nutrition.

You may also request correction of information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

Requests may be made by contacting:

Dorothy Lyons, RD
info@dorothylyonsrd.com

Identity may need to be verified before health information is released.

Where permitted, a reasonable fee may apply for preparing or providing copies of records. You will be informed of applicable fees before the request is completed.

14. Privacy Breaches

Dorothy Lyons Nutrition maintains procedures for responding to suspected or confirmed privacy breaches.

Where a privacy breach occurs, reasonable steps will be taken to:

• Contain the breach

• Investigate what occurred

• Reduce the risk of further unauthorized access, use or disclosure

• Notify affected individuals where required

• Take corrective action

• Notify the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, the College of Dietitians of Ontario or another authority where legally required

15. Questions or Privacy Complaints

If you have a question or concern about the handling of your personal information or personal health information, please contact Dorothy Lyons Nutrition first:

Dorothy Lyons, RD
Privacy Contact
info@dorothylyonsrd.com

Concerns will be reviewed and responded to as appropriate.

You also have the right to contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) regarding concerns about the handling of your personal health information.

Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8
Toronto area: 416-326-3333
Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-387-0073

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect changes to practice operations, technology, professional requirements or applicable law.

The current version will be posted on this website with the date of the most recent update.

Dorothy Lyons Nutrition
Registered Dietitian Nutrition Services
Virtual care across Ontario
info@dorothylyonsrd.com