Terms of Use

1. Agreement to Terms

Welcome to the New European Surgical Academy (NESA) website at nesacademy.org. These Terms of Use ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you and the New European Surgical Academy, a non-profit organization headquartered at Unter den Linden 21, 10117 Berlin, Germany.

By accessing or using our website, registering for events, becoming a member, making donations, or using any of our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not access or use our website or services.

2. About NESA

The New European Surgical Academy (NESA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing surgical techniques and sharing evidence-based medical knowledge globally. Since 2004, NESA has been connecting surgical opinion leaders from nine medical disciplines across 64 countries to develop simplified surgical methods that reduce complications, shorten recovery times, and improve patient outcomes worldwide.

Our activities include:

• Surgical training workshops and conferences
• Research initiatives and publications
• The All-African Surgical Database
• Junior NESA education programs
• Professional membership programs
• Fundraising and donation management

3. Eligibility

To use our services, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have the legal capacity to enter into binding agreements
• Not be prohibited from using the services under applicable laws

Certain services, such as participation in surgical workshops and professional membership, may require additional qualifications, including but not limited to:

• Valid medical license or credentials
• Proof of professional affiliation with a recognized medical institution
• Compliance with continuing medical education (CME) requirements

4. User Accounts

4.1 Account Registration

To access certain features of our website, you may need to create an account. When registering, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Keep your login credentials confidential and secure
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account

4.2 Account Responsibility

You are solely responsible for all activities that occur under your account. NESA is not liable for any loss or damage arising from unauthorized use of your account.

4.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at our discretion if you violate these Terms or engage in conduct that we deem harmful to NESA, other users, or third parties.

5. Acceptable Use

When using our website and services, you agree NOT to:

• Violate any applicable laws, regulations, or third-party rights
• Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Use the services for any unlawful or unauthorized purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or networks
• Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the website
• Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or other harmful code
• Harvest or collect information about other users without consent
• Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) to access the website
• Reproduce, distribute, or commercialize our content without authorization
• Use our educational materials to provide medical advice to patients
• Misrepresent your professional qualifications or credentials

6. Intellectual Property

6.1 NESA Content

All content on the NESA website, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, videos, educational materials, research publications, surgical guidelines, and software, is the property of NESA or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

6.2 Limited License

NESA grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the website and its content for personal, non-commercial, educational purposes only. This license does not include:

• Modification or reproduction of materials
• Commercial use or redistribution
• Creation of derivative works
• Removal of copyright or proprietary notices

6.3 Trademarks

"New European Surgical Academy," "NESA," and associated logos are trademarks of NESA. You may not use these marks without prior written permission.

6.4 User Submissions

If you submit content to NESA (such as comments, feedback, or research contributions), you grant NESA a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, and publish such content in connection with our mission.

7. Events and Workshops

7.1 Registration

Registration for NESA events, including NESA Days conferences and surgical workshops, is subject to availability and may require payment of registration fees. By registering, you agree to comply with event-specific terms and conditions.

7.2 Cancellation and Refunds

Cancellation and refund policies vary by event. Please review the specific terms provided during registration. Generally:

• Cancellations made 30+ days before the event may receive a full refund minus administrative fees
• Cancellations made 15-29 days before the event may receive a 50% refund
• Cancellations made fewer than 15 days before the event are non-refundable
• NESA reserves the right to cancel or reschedule events due to unforeseen circumstances

7.3 Code of Conduct

All event participants must conduct themselves professionally and respectfully. Harassment, discrimination, or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the event without refund.

8. Membership

NESA membership provides access to exclusive benefits, resources, and networking opportunities. Membership terms include:

• Annual membership fees are non-refundable
• Membership benefits are personal and non-transferable
• Members must maintain accurate professional credentials
• NESA reserves the right to revoke membership for violations of these Terms
• Membership renewal is not automatic unless otherwise specified

9. Donations

NESA accepts charitable donations to support our mission of advancing surgical education globally. By making a donation:

• You confirm that you are authorized to use the payment method provided
• You acknowledge that donations are generally non-refundable
• You understand that donations are used at NESA's discretion to further our charitable purposes
• You may receive a donation receipt for tax purposes where applicable

For questions about donations, please contact us at donations@nesacademy.org.

10. Medical Disclaimer

You acknowledge and agree that:

• NESA content is for educational purposes and should be applied using professional medical judgment
• Medical practitioners are solely responsible for their clinical decisions
• NESA does not provide medical advice to individual patients
• Always consider local regulations, institutional protocols, and individual patient circumstances
• NESA is not responsible for treatment outcomes based on our educational materials

11. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including partner institutions, research databases, and payment processors. These links are provided for convenience only. NESA does not endorse, control, or assume responsibility for the content or practices of any third-party sites.

Your use of third-party services is governed by their respective terms and conditions.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE NESA WEBSITE AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
• FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
• NON-INFRINGEMENT
• ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF CONTENT
• UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OPERATION

NESA does not warrant that the website will be secure, free from viruses, or available at all times.

13. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, NESA AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Any loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
• Any damages arising from your use or inability to use our services
• Any content or conduct of third parties on the website

In no event shall NESA's total liability exceed the amount you have paid to NESA in the 12 months preceding the claim.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless NESA and its officers, directors, employees, partners, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or related to:

• Your use of the website or services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any third-party rights
• Your professional activities or medical decisions

15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Germany, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Berlin, Germany.

16. Dispute Resolution

Before initiating any legal action, you agree to attempt to resolve disputes informally by contacting us at legal@nesacademy.org. We will endeavor to resolve the matter within 30 days.

17. Changes to Terms

NESA reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Posting the revised Terms on our website with a new "Last Updated" date
• Sending email notifications to registered users
• Displaying a prominent notice on our homepage

Your continued use of the website after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

18. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

19. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and NESA regarding the use of our website and services, superseding any prior agreements.

20. Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding these Terms of Use, please contact us: