Are you a fellow Lipedema-affected person living in the province of Manitoba? Well, you’d better listen up because there is some exciting news.
I have reached out to a lawyer that specializes in advocacy for healthcare with the Province of Manitoba. The purpose of seeking legal help is to ensure that every Manitoban affected with lipedema has access to healthcare including, diagnosis, treatment (compression, manual lymphatic massage therapy, physiotherapists, and lymphatic sparing liposuction performed by a qualified specialist)
How much will it cost?
If our application for a class action representation is accepted by the legal team then all services will be provided through legal aid and therefore at no cost to us as individuals.
Yes, you read that correctly. If our case gets enough women behind it then we would receive advocacy and legal representation paid for by legal aid.
What is at stake?
The research suggests that as many as 11% of women (assigned female at birth) populations may have lipedema. If you do the math that means approximately 75,000 women in Manitoba may have Lipedema. That is a huge number of people who may struggle their entire lives without access to adequate healthcare and a proper diagnosis.
Here in Canada, we have a right to access healthcare appropriate to our condition. Presently, Manitoba does not have adequate access to qualified professionals for diagnosis, treatment, ongoing management or surgery. Further to this, the Province of Manitoba has demonstrated an unwillingness to cover care out of the country. Simply put there is a large need for care and our voices have gone unheard for too long.
The provinces’ decision not to provide care and the frequent fat phobic barriers to care also represent a possible human rights claim. The lawyers will work with us to decide how best to proceed.
How you can help!
It’s very easy to help. The lawyer has said that we need to come together as a group and advocate for care. That is as simple as adding your name to our list of Manitoba persons wanting to be represented in this case. Simply fill out the form below and I will ensure your name is put forward. Together we represent the need and together we are strong.
Can I join if I am not from Manitoba?
Presently this legal action is only available to those of us residing in Manitoba. I encourage all of you in other Provinces to seek the counsel of a public lawyer that can represent you as a group. It only takes one of us to stand up and lead the dance. Gather your fellow lipedema sufferers in support and let’s change how we are treated as a whole in Canada. Precedent here we come!
Do I need an official diagnosis to join?
No, if you know that you have lipedema (perhaps a diagnosis from a physiotherapist or foreign surgeon) but you can’t get access to a specialist or doctor that can diagnose you here in Manitoba then please add your name.
What if I already had surgery?
Yes, please join us! Your story is valuable here and you bring a unique perspective to the advocacy for care. It is never too late to be recognized as deserving of healthcare. Add your name to the form.
Sign me up
What happens now?
Once we have collected as many names of Manitoba Lipedema sufferers as possible then a meeting with the lawyers will be arranged. The first meeting will be with myself and the legal team to present our case for requiring advocacy.
Then our case will be evaluated based on the systemic impact of the matter. In English, how many people in Manitoba might be impacted by the decision to receive coverage for care provided by Manitoba Health. The math suggests that it is easily tens of thousands of us!
The lawyers would also potentially approach the minister of health on our behalf to have all “medically necessary” treatments covered by Manitoba Health. This is an option for overcoming exclusions presently in the legislation stating “liposuction is considered cosmetic”.
There may be several avenues to achieve our goals of getting access to care. First, we need to have our case accepted and that is best accomplished as a team. The more of us there are the better our chances of getting help. Step one is to sign up and join me!
All battles are first won or lost, in the mind
Follow along
Please consider subscribing to my humble blog for updates and to follow the journey. I am forever grateful for the support of each of you.
Together we CAN do this!
3 Responses
This is amazing news! I wish you and the team all the best as you move forward! I’ll be cheering you all on!! With luck and hard work, maybe Ontario won’t be too far behind Manitoba!
This is wonderful news. i was recently diagnosed at the Pan Am Clinic. It was sheer luck. i had an accident and needed physio as part of my recovery. Fortunately the physio connected me to another physio who is Lipedema trained. It was the luckiest day of my life!! I go once a week for massage and my work plan covers a portion but i am paying just under $50 out of pocket each time I go.
I will publish your blog post at LipedemaSource.com and to the Facebook and Instagram pages to spread the word. Let me know if I can help in any way!