Terms and Conditions
Lipedema Clinic Limited
Last updated: February 2026
1. About These Terms
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of the Lipedema Clinic website at lipedemaclinic.org (“the Website”), including all courses, content, community features, products, and services provided through it (collectively, “the Services”).
The Services are provided by Lipedema Clinic Limited (“we”, “us”, “our”), a company registered in New Zealand.
Registered office: Care of Lipedema Clinic, 3 Picton Avenue, Addington, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
Company number: 9274322 · NZBN: 9429052331305
Contact: support@lipedemaclinic.org
By accessing or using the Website, creating an account, purchasing a course or product, or otherwise engaging with our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services.
These Terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand. Nothing in these Terms is intended to limit or override your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, the Fair Trading Act 1986, the Privacy Act 2020, the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017, or any other applicable New Zealand legislation.
2. Eligibility
To use our Services, you must be at least 16 years of age. By creating an account, you confirm that you are at least 16 years old and that the information you provide is accurate.
If you are under 18 years of age, you confirm that you have obtained consent from a parent or legal guardian to use the Services.
3. Accounts
3.1 Account Creation
To access certain features (including courses, community, and events), you must create an account by providing your name and email address and setting a password. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.
3.2 Account Security
You agree to notify us immediately at support@lipedemaclinic.org if you become aware of any unauthorised use of your account. We are not liable for any loss arising from unauthorised access to your account where you have failed to maintain the security of your credentials.
3.3 Account Accuracy
You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your profile information up to date. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that contain materially inaccurate information.
4. Courses and Digital Content
4.1 Licence to Access
When you purchase a course, you are granted a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to access the course content for your own personal, non-commercial use. You are not purchasing ownership of the content.
4.2 Lifetime Access
Unless otherwise stated at the time of purchase, course purchases include lifetime access to the purchased course content. “Lifetime access” means access for as long as the course remains available on our platform. We will make reasonable efforts to maintain course availability but do not guarantee perpetual availability. In the event we discontinue a course, we will provide at least 90 days’ notice and, where practicable, provide downloadable versions of the content.
4.3 Live Events and Q&A Sessions
Certain courses include access to live events such as monthly Q&A sessions. Live event access is subject to the specific terms stated at the time of purchase (for example, access to a specific month’s live Q&A). Recordings of live events may be made available to course members but this is at our discretion.
4.4 Course Updates
We may update, modify, or improve course content from time to time. We are under no obligation to update content, and any updates are provided at our discretion.
4.5 Prohibited Use
You must not:
- —Share your account or course access with others
- —Copy, reproduce, download, distribute, or republish any course content, including video recordings, written materials, worksheets, or other resources
- —Use course content for any commercial purpose, including resale, repackaging, or creating derivative works
- —Record, screenshot, or capture live event sessions without our prior written consent
- —Use automated tools to scrape, download, or extract content from the platform
Breach of these restrictions may result in immediate termination of your account and access without refund.
5. Physical Products
5.1 Product Descriptions
We make reasonable efforts to accurately describe and photograph our physical products (including nutritional supplements). Colours and dimensions may vary slightly from what appears on screen.
5.2 Orders and Acceptance
Placing an order constitutes an offer to purchase. We may accept or decline orders at our discretion. A binding contract is formed when we confirm your order and process payment.
5.3 Pricing
All prices are displayed in the currency stated on the Website (typically USD or NZD) and include any applicable taxes unless stated otherwise. We reserve the right to change prices at any time, but price changes will not affect orders already confirmed.
5.4 Shipping and Delivery
Physical products are fulfilled by our logistics partners. Estimated delivery times are provided at checkout and vary by location. We are not liable for delays caused by customs, postal services, or events beyond our reasonable control.
Risk of loss or damage to physical products passes to you upon delivery to the address you provided.
5.5 Consumer Guarantees — Physical Products
Physical products supplied to consumers in New Zealand come with guarantees under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 that cannot be excluded. If a product fails to meet a consumer guarantee (for example, it is not of acceptable quality, is not fit for purpose, or does not match its description), you are entitled to a remedy. Depending on whether the failure is minor or substantial, this may include repair, replacement, or refund. Contact us at support@lipedemaclinic.org to arrange a remedy.
5.6 Supplement Disclaimer
Nutritional supplement products sold through Lipedema Clinic are dietary supplements and are not medicines. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional. Supplements should not replace a balanced diet.
6. Pricing and Payment
6.1 Payment Processing
Payments are processed securely through Stripe. We do not store your full credit card details on our servers. By making a purchase, you agree to Stripe’s terms of service in addition to these Terms.
6.2 Currency
Prices are displayed in the currency indicated on the relevant product or course page. You are responsible for any currency conversion fees charged by your bank or payment provider.
6.3 Failed Payments
If a payment fails, we may attempt to re-process it. If payment cannot be collected, we reserve the right to suspend access to the relevant course or cancel the relevant order.
7. Refund Policy
7.1 Digital Courses — 14-Day Money-Back Guarantee
We offer a 14-day money-back guarantee on course purchases. If you are unsatisfied with a course for any reason, you may request a full refund within 14 days of the date of purchase by emailing support@lipedemaclinic.org. Refunds will be processed to the original payment method within 10 business days.
After 14 days, course purchases are non-refundable except where required by law.
7.2 Physical Products
For physical products, you may request a refund or exchange if:
- —The product is faulty, damaged, or not as described (in accordance with the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993)
- —The product has not been delivered within a reasonable time
To request a refund for a physical product, contact support@lipedemaclinic.org within a reasonable time of discovering the issue, and we will arrange a remedy as required by law.
We do not offer refunds for change of mind on physical products unless the product is returned unopened and unused within 14 days of delivery, in which case a refund will be provided less any shipping costs.
7.3 Live Events
Fees paid for standalone live events (if any) are non-refundable once the event has taken place. If you are unable to attend a live event, contact us before the event and we will endeavour to provide access to a recording where available.
7.4 Consumer Guarantees Act
Nothing in this refund policy limits or overrides your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.
8. Intellectual Property
8.1 Our Content
All content on the Website and within our courses — including text, video, audio, images, graphics, worksheets, templates, logos, trademarks, and software — is owned by Lipedema Clinic Limited, our content creators, or our licensors and is protected by New Zealand and international intellectual property laws, including the Copyright Act 1994.
8.2 Limited Licence
You are granted a limited licence to access and view content for your personal, non-commercial use only. This licence does not transfer any ownership rights to you.
8.3 User Content
If you submit content to the platform (for example, community posts, comments, or testimonials), you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, display, reproduce, and distribute that content in connection with our Services. You retain ownership of your content but confirm that it does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party.
8.4 Takedown Requests
If you believe that content on our platform infringes your intellectual property rights, please contact us at support@lipedemaclinic.org with details of the alleged infringement.
9. Medical and Health Disclaimer
9.1 Educational Purpose Only
All content provided through our Services — including courses, webinars, community discussions, articles, resources, and any information provided by Dr. Jonie Girouard or other contributors — is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
9.2 Not a Substitute for Professional Advice
Our content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your doctor, specialist, or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, medication, treatment plan, or health concern.
9.3 No Doctor-Patient Relationship
Use of our Services does not create a doctor-patient, therapist-patient, or any other clinical relationship between you and Dr. Jonie Girouard, Lipedema Clinic Limited, or any of our contributors, employees, or affiliates.
9.4 Individual Results Vary
Health outcomes described in our content (including in courses, testimonials, and case studies) are individual experiences and are not guaranteed. Your results may differ depending on your personal circumstances, health history, stage of condition, genetics, medication use, and adherence to any protocols discussed.
9.5 Medication
You must never stop, start, or change the dosage of any medication based on information from our courses or content without first consulting with your prescribing doctor or healthcare provider. Information about medications in our courses is educational and intended to support informed conversations with your clinical team — not to replace them.
9.6 Emergency
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 111 (New Zealand) or your local emergency services immediately. Do not rely on our Services for urgent medical assistance.
10. Community Guidelines
10.1 Acceptable Use
Our community features (including forums, comments, and group discussions) are intended to provide a supportive environment. When participating, you agree to:
- —Treat other members with respect and kindness
- —Not share medical advice or present yourself as a medical professional unless you are one
- —Not post content that is defamatory, abusive, threatening, harassing, or discriminatory
- —Not post spam, advertisements, or promotional content without our permission
- —Not share other members’ personal information without their consent
- —Not share or redistribute course content or paid materials in community spaces
10.2 Moderation
We reserve the right to moderate, edit, or remove any content posted to community areas at our discretion. We may suspend or terminate the accounts of users who repeatedly violate these guidelines.
10.3 No Endorsement
Views expressed by community members are their own and do not represent the views of Lipedema Clinic Limited, Dr. Jonie Girouard, or any of our affiliates.
11. Limitation of Liability
11.1 To the Maximum Extent Permitted by Law
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Lipedema Clinic Limited, its directors, employees, contractors, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, revenue, data, or goodness of opportunity, arising out of or in connection with your use of the Services.
11.2 Cap on Liability
Our total aggregate liability to you for any claims arising out of or in connection with these Terms or your use of the Services shall not exceed the amount you paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim, except where a greater liability is required by law.
11.3 Consumer Guarantees
Nothing in this section limits or excludes liability that cannot be limited or excluded under New Zealand law, including liability under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.
12. Availability and Modifications
12.1 Service Availability
We make reasonable efforts to keep the Website and Services available, but do not guarantee uninterrupted access. We may temporarily suspend access for maintenance, updates, or reasons beyond our control.
12.2 Changes to Services
We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Services at any time. Where changes materially affect your existing paid access, we will provide reasonable notice.
12.3 Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. Continued use of the Services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. For material changes, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you (for example, by email or an in-platform notification).
13. Termination
13.1 By You
You may close your account at any time by contacting us at support@lipedemaclinic.org. Closing your account does not entitle you to a refund for any courses or products already purchased, except as set out in Section 7.
13.2 By Us
We may suspend or terminate your account and access to the Services if you breach these Terms, engage in conduct that is harmful to other users, or for any other reason at our discretion with reasonable notice. Where we terminate your account for reasons other than a breach of these Terms, we will provide a pro-rata refund for any prepaid services you have not yet received.
14. Third-Party Services
Our Website may contain links to third-party websites, services, or content that we do not own or control (including Stripe, Vimeo, Google, and social media platforms). We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or terms of any third-party services. Your use of third-party services is at your own risk and subject to their terms and conditions.
15. Dispute Resolution
15.1 Informal Resolution
If you have a complaint or dispute, please contact us first at support@lipedemaclinic.org. We will make reasonable efforts to resolve the issue informally.
15.2 Mediation
If we are unable to resolve a dispute informally within 30 days, either party may refer the matter to mediation administered by the Resolution Institute (or another agreed mediation provider) in Christchurch, New Zealand.
15.3 Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand. You and Lipedema Clinic Limited submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand.
15.4 Consumer Rights
Nothing in this dispute resolution clause limits your right to take action under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, the Fair Trading Act 1986, or to make a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner, the Commerce Commission, or any other relevant regulatory body.
16. General Provisions
16.1 Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any additional terms presented at the time of purchase, constitute the entire agreement between you and Lipedema Clinic Limited regarding the Services.
16.2 Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
16.3 Waiver
Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not be deemed a waiver of that provision or of the right to enforce it at a later time.
16.4 Assignment
You may not assign or transfer your rights under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations under these Terms without restriction.
16.5 Force Majeure
We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance resulting from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, government actions, pandemics, internet outages, or third-party service failures.
17. Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us:
Lipedema Clinic Limited
Care of Lipedema Clinic, 3 Picton Avenue
Addington, Christchurch 8011
New Zealand
Email: support@lipedemaclinic.org