Crime on the Autismfront?
People do lots of things to raise money in the name of autism research. They walk. They run. The get naked. They buy toothpaste. They crop.
Frances Cahill wishes to donate the proceeds of her new book to the Irish Society for Autism (ISA)—-the book being Martin Cahill, My Father. Martin Cahill, as the Independent notes today, was a “major criminal known as The General”:
Dr James Hayes said this was the first he had heard of the offer. “So far the ISA have not had any offer of money arising from the publication of Ms Cahill’s book,” he said.
A board source told the Sunday Independent last night that the money would not be accepted. “We don’t want to be used in any cheap publicity stunt. Besides, I doubt this book will raise very much money.”
The Irish MEP and leading disability-rights campaigner said it would be wrong for the Irish Autism Society to accept these proceeds.
The CEO of another autism charity group said it would in no way accept money from the sale of such a book given the ethical difficulties associated with it.
Is it unethical for autism organizations—charities—-to accept money from “puzzling” sources? Or is money just what it is—-money and autism so in need to be researched, studied, “treated,” that enough is never too much?
3 opinions for Crime on the Autismfront?
mcewen
Oct 14, 2007 at 9:45 pm
How very curious. ‘If’ it’s not a publicity stunt, I wonder why this particular ’cause’ drew her attention?
Best wishes
Kristina Chew, PhD
Oct 14, 2007 at 9:54 pm
That’s what I was wondering, too……
Moi ;)
Nov 6, 2007 at 12:58 pm
I think I have mentioned before that I never trust a study funded by anything suspicious or connected with something that could possibly bias the outcome. That is the Doubting Thomas in me, and it has served me well.
That said, I am not sure that accepting money from the book would be a bad thing. Maybe she has an autistic family member and wants to be quiet about it to respect the family. Maybe she is trying to atone for Martin’s actions. If she is, then not accepting it is a slap in her face….
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