Privacy Policy

What zero-data retention covers

Zero-data retention applies to Query answers and Consult Analysis transcription and summary generation. It is not an app-wide claim. SimPatient conversations, marking, essays, vivas, drills, SAQs, ECG and imaging grading, document OCR, performance insights and learner memory use separate routes, and some providers retain data under their own policies. We are moving those routes onto zero-data-retention endpoints; this page describes what is true today.

Query

Query does not save your conversations to your account by default. The transcript stays in your browser, and closing or refreshing the tab loses it. Any images or screenshots you paste or attach are not stored by OSCELab unless you save the chat. If you choose to save a query, its messages, replies and attached images are stored in your account until you delete them; deleting the query deletes its images. You can change this in Query's history settings.

Query requests — text and any pasted or attached images — go through OpenRouter to a pinned, verified zero-data-retention endpoint for the model you selected. Every answer is requested with zdr: true and data_collection: deny, and OpenRouter's public zero-data-retention inventory is checked before each answer; if the route cannot be verified, Query blocks the request rather than falling back to a standard-retention route. Depending on the model chosen, the serving provider may be Google Vertex, Azure, Together AI or xAI. Only the two most recent images in a conversation are sent with a request; earlier images stay in the chat but are not sent again, and if you choose a text-only answer model no images are sent at all. OpenRouter and the serving provider may still process operational metadata under their own policies. Remove names, MRNs, dates and other identifiers from text and images before asking, and use fictional or de-identified learning material.

Sharing is optional. A shared link exposes a text-only snapshot to anyone with the link until you stop sharing or delete the query; it never includes attached images. Later messages are not added automatically. We retain usage records without message text or images to enforce allowances after a conversation is deleted. Optional dictation uses your browser's speech service: where the browser confirms on-device recognition, audio stays on your device; otherwise your browser vendor may process the audio.

Consult Analysis

Consult Analysis can use on-device browser recognition, a pasted transcript, or a reviewed OpenRouter speech-to-text route. On-device recognition is offered only when the browser confirms local processing. Cloud audio is sent to OpenRouter only after recording stops. Before every attempt the app verifies the selected model and endpoint tag in OpenRouter's public ZDR inventory and sends zdr: true and data_collection: deny. If no reviewed ZDR route is available, cloud transcription is not offered. The current primary is ElevenLabs Scribe v2 Medical, with AssemblyAI Universal-3.6 Pro as the fallback.

The transcript and working summary stay in your browser. They are sent to the same pinned zero-data-retention model route as Query only when you generate a summary. Consult Analysis does not store the transcript or audio on the server.

A generated summary is not saved unless you choose Save encrypted summary. Saved summaries and feedback are encrypted at rest, visible only to your account and can be deleted. The audio and working transcript are not included.

Practice conversations

SimPatient practice is different from Query. Text and voice conversations are stored so you can review them and be marked. New accounts keep only the marks, feedback and a short summary: the raw transcript is deleted when marking finishes. Accounts created before this change keep the full transcript for 90 days, then it is deleted. You can switch to summary-only or delete every practice transcript from your Profile at any time. Marks, feedback and statistics are kept either way.

Voice conversations are processed by our voice providers. Retell is configured for Basic Attributes Only: transcripts, recordings and logs are deleted about 10 minutes after post-call processing, and only basic call metadata is kept for 30 days. ElevenLabs agents run in Zero Retention Mode. Our own transcript copy follows the rules above. Do not use real patient details in any practice conversation.

Information we collect

• Account data, including your email address, password hash, and app account token used to link app store purchases.
• Profile inputs such as performance insight instructions you choose to save.
• Learning activity and content, including quiz answers, scores, marksheets, conversation transcripts, AI prompts you submit, and generated outputs.
• Uploads and documents, including files you upload, file metadata, extracted text, OCR text, summaries, and generated learning assets.
• Device and usage data such as session cookies, IP address, user agent, request IDs, error logs, usage telemetry, and device tokens for notifications.
• Payment and subscription identifiers from Stripe and app stores (for example customer, subscription, and transaction IDs). We do not store full card numbers.

How we use information

• Provide the service, authenticate sessions, and manage subscriptions and entitlements.
• Generate learning content, feedback, and performance insights.
• Enable voice conversations and store related transcripts for review and scoring.
• Send transactional and support emails such as welcome and password reset messages.
• Monitor reliability, diagnose issues, and protect the platform from misuse.

How we share information

We share data with service providers that help us operate OSCELab, including:

• Payment processors (Stripe and app stores) to process subscriptions and purchases.
• AI and voice providers to process prompts, transcripts, and voice interactions: OpenRouter and its serving providers (including Google Vertex, OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek and Mistral), OpenAI, DeepSeek, Anthropic, Mistral, ElevenLabs, AssemblyAI, Retell, Vapi and LiveKit. Query and Consult Analysis use a pinned, verified zero-data-retention route; other features may use standard-retention routes. During a voice conversation, your microphone audio is streamed in real time to our voice provider (Retell by default, with ElevenLabs or Vapi as fallbacks, using the LiveKit real-time audio transport) to generate the simulated patient's responses.
• Email delivery providers to send account and support communications.
• Product-analytics and error-monitoring providers (PostHog and Sentry) to understand how the service is used and to keep it reliable. These receive usage events and a stable identifier (such as your account ID or email), but not your learning content.
• Infrastructure providers that host and secure our services.

We may also share information if required by law or to protect the safety and integrity of our services.

Sensitive information

OSCELab is for education and exam preparation. Please avoid submitting real patient identifiers. If you choose to include sensitive information in your inputs or uploads, it will be processed and stored as part of your learning activity.

Query Deep Dive

Deep Dive adds a web search to a Query answer. Query rewrites the selected sentence as plain medical search terms and sends only those terms to a search provider — never your question, your answer, images or any patient details. The search results come back to the same zero-data-retention AI route that writes the brief. The exact terms used are shown on every deep dive.

Data retention and choices

We keep data only for as long as it is needed for the purposes described on this page. The table below sets out the main periods. We may keep information longer where the law requires it, to resolve a dispute, or to enforce allowances and billing. You can update your profile and control notification permissions in your device settings. You can delete your account from the Profile page in OSCELab. For access or correction requests, contact us at [email protected].

Our legal basis (UK/EU users)

Where the UK or EU GDPR applies, we process your information to perform our contract with you (providing the service, marking, feedback and managing your plan), for our legitimate interests (keeping the platform reliable, secure and continually improved), with your consent (for example, optional analytics cookies and voice recording), and to comply with our legal obligations. Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw it at any time.

International data transfers

We operate from Australia and use service providers located overseas, including in the United States (for example OpenRouter, Google Vertex, OpenAI, Anthropic, ElevenLabs, AssemblyAI, Retell, Vapi, LiveKit, Stripe, Sentry, and our hosting and email providers), the European Union (our product-analytics provider, PostHog, and some OpenRouter serving providers), and — for some AI text processing — in China (DeepSeek). This means your information may be transferred to, stored in, or processed in countries whose data-protection laws differ from your own. Where required, we put appropriate safeguards (such as standard contractual clauses) in place for these transfers. If you would prefer your data not be processed by a particular provider, contact us before using the related feature.

Voice recordings

Voice-based simulated patients need access to your microphone. When you start a voice conversation, your audio is streamed in real time to our voice provider to generate responses. Retell is configured to store only basic call metadata: no transcript, recording or logs are kept, and that metadata is deleted after 30 days. ElevenLabs agents run in Zero Retention Mode. Our own transcript copy is kept for 90 days for full-transcript accounts, or deleted when marking finishes for summary-only accounts; marks and feedback are kept either way. By starting a voice conversation you consent to this processing. You can use the rest of OSCELab without voice features.

Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies that are strictly necessary to run the service (for example, to keep you signed in and to keep the site secure). We also use limited analytics and error-reporting telemetry to understand reliability and improve OSCELab. Where the law requires consent for non-essential cookies, we ask for it through our cookie banner, and you can change your choice at any time. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings, although some features may stop working as a result.

How we protect information

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit, access controls, and reputable infrastructure providers. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we can't guarantee absolute security. If we become aware of a data breach likely to cause serious harm, we will notify affected users and the relevant regulator as required by law, including under the Australian Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.

Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, update, export, or delete your personal information, to object to or restrict certain processing, and to withdraw consent. You can update your profile and delete your account from the Profile page in OSCELab. To make any other request, email us at [email protected] and we will respond within the time the law requires. If you are in Australia and aren't satisfied with our response, you can complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (oaic.gov.au); in the UK, to the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk); in the EU, to your local data-protection authority.

Children and young people

OSCELab is intended for users aged 18 and over. If you are under 18, you may only use OSCELab with the involvement and consent of a parent or guardian who agrees to our Terms on your behalf. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has given us personal information without appropriate consent, contact us and we will delete it.

Contact

Questions about privacy? Email us at [email protected].