There is a debate in the world of Lipedema which Coco now spells not as Lipoedema in order to avoid the suggestion that oedema (water based fluid) is present in the dsytrophy which is called lipedema. Coco has referenced the debate in other articles – here and here. The video referenced below produced by Colin Mockery (is that a pen name like Coco?) is quite long but an excellent literature review for anyone who has either the smallest interest in lipedema or who is looking for an example of how to review literature and present the results of such a review.

It is a fascinating story. Coco understands why some at the ILA or the Concensus would want to advertise or suppress the video, but Coco would wish to be cautious about the way it is done. It could so easily be perceived as a gloating over the ‘enemy’. We must not rejoice over the fall of others nor seek to find ways to make them fall, for we are as frail as they are, so concerning promotion of the video, Coco would want to add a statement something like (the author himself makes much the same point close to the end of the video):

‘whilst we agree with the scientific conclusions of this examination of the literature we do not endorse any attacks upon any of the individual practitioners mentioned who we believe intend only the best for their patients even if they may have been misinformed and not have used or promoted the most appropriate treatments in their practices. Attacks upon individuals merely strain relationships and hinder our efforts to work towards a common evidence-based understanding of the underlying causes and best treatments available for this debilitating condition. We must remember that each one of us has taken a journey to reach where we are today, having ourselves also made mistakes and having been in need of correction ourselves.  Our understandings are limited, and any criticism we make must be made with humility and compassion. ‘

Coco can see at least one cultural problem though for whilst Luther and his contemporaries would happily speak directly against persons – indeed Luther himself was likened to a bull by the Pope of his day – such an approach is not the best to use today in some societies. However if you ask a German today to say something in that manner as it may be appear to him that it is very much like asking him to attack the teaching of Mein Kampf whilst at the same time defending Hitler himself, which would be completely counter cultural in the Vaterland.

There were some other aspects than the attacks upon the individuals, with which Coco was not happy in the video for example, the use of the comic music behind some of the video clips of Dr Karen Herbst and Linda-Anne Kahn(?) were prejudicial, unhelpful and disturbing. Coco could see why it was thought appropriate, but it was unnecessary (unless the music was also behind the original videos of course). The words used were enough in themselves to get the point that was being made across. Secondly, the use of irony in the apparent pretence of a denial that there was a commercial motive behind their public statements despite the presentation of evidence that suggested quite clearly that there is a financial conflict of interest may not be what you want to find in a literature review, but there are good examples of it in English literature itself; Shakespeare used the very technique in Mark Anthony’s speech after the murder of Caesar, perhaps with good cause for if he had not Mark Anthony may himself have become the object of a second murder.

Coco commends the video for your close attention. Listening at 1.25 will work, and reduce the viewing time, but there are sections where the review quotes from the literature where you will need to slow down to normal speed in order to properly grasp the sense of the speakers being quoted.