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Lending for health or borrowing trouble?

Jeff Trexler | Tuesday 7th July 2009

Is trying to help children always a good thing?

While the rest of the world was watching the Michael Jackson memorial, this afternoon on Twitter an interesting discussion occurred between global health expert Alanna Shaikh and Tori Tuncan, founder of the microloan service Lend4Health.

Although Lend4Health is a celebrated example of an organization that is using online social networks to promote social good, Shaikh confessed that the venture "gives me the creeps." Part of the problem, Shaikh noted, is the medical approach that Lend4Health currently supports: the controversial biomedical approach to autism, "quackery" that should not be a basis for a family's going into debt.

Another problem is more systemic: namely, the way that the microlending model infringes on the privacy of children.

It's a real issue. Lend4Health's website offers photos, names and diagnoses of the kids being served by the loans, and its Twitter account provides updates and detailed appeals. Even if parents are legally free to disclose otherwise private medical information regarding a minor child, Lend4Health raises what is--for me at least--an ethically questionable incentive for parents to make a child's condition public in exchange for cash.

Whatever one's assessment of biomedical intervention, surely the social enterprise community is not so caught up in its own virtue that it can't see how posting "my son Timmy is autistic and we can't afford to pay to get rid of his condition" can hurt the very children that lending for health is supposed to protect. A child's sense of self, relation to parents, interaction with friends--publishing medical information can have payback for the kid years after the loan itself is repaid.

While I admire Lend4Health's dedication to doing good, I am concerned about the potential ramifications for both children and adults should the model go to scale.

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Jeanne Cantkier | Posted: 7 July 2009

I apologize for the lengthy comment.

Jeanne Cantkier | Posted: 7 July 2009

I also take issue with Alana admitting the idea gives her the "creeps." Hopefully she will visit your blog and answer my question: Do you also get the creeps when you see a St. Jude's plea for help for a specific child, or is it just biomed/autism that creeps you out?

Respectfully,

Jeanne, mother of Charlie (2 time loan recipient, oft time lender on L4H, and organizer of Cinco De Linco Loans for Lend4Health.org, which to date has raised over $1500 in microloans for children in need)

Jeanne Cantkier | Posted: 7 July 2009

That being said, I must strongly oppose the tone of your blog post. Some are saying you are simply trying to raise questions that must be addressed due to the changing climate of this issue; I think you missed the mark.

Implying the parents of the children on Lend4Health in ANY way profit from their child's medical problems is insensitive, inconsiderate, and downright irresponsible. Try to imagine the number of people who will read your words and make an instant decision that these children are being exploited by their parents.

(cont. again, sorry)

Jeanne

Jeanne Cantkier | Posted: 7 July 2009

Jeff, let me start off by saying you (and Alanna) clearly do not understand the idea of recovering a child from autism. How could you? My mother says all the time, a person cannot ever truly understand until they "are in it" - and I pray you both never join the ranks of parents with children affected by this devastating disorder.

Also, with 1 in nearly 68 children affected by autism, be prepared for what you call "controversial" and "quackery," what you present as a negative solution to a horrific situation, to become more and more mainstream each day; after all, since when are diet, vitamins and oxygen therapy a bad thing?

I appreciate the idea of opening dialog to discuss this issue. With the sorry state of our current healthcare system, we must all be willing to have honest discussions about the choices some are forced into when their insurance company denies coverage (or they do not have coverage at all).

....(cont. on next comment)

Jeanne

John X | Posted: 7 July 2009

Jeff - although I never experienced the difficulitites that special needs parents face I can only say that I would have no problem taking help so generously offered by the lenders on lend4health.com if it would help my child.

I do think the phrase "an ethically questionable incentive for parents to make a child's condition public in exchange for cash" was inconsidered although I'm sure not intentional.

I do appreciate the discourse - respectfully - John

Lisa Ludwig | Posted: 7 July 2009

As the parent of the childs picture you posted on your blog, I will tell you, first everyone already knows about my sons diagnosis as the state and our government already listed him as disabled because of Autism. Its not a secret and will not harm him in anyway for me to publicly tell others about his condition. We are not keeping it a secret from him, and its nothing to be ashamed of. I hope you understand where I am coming from as a parent, and I just wanted to post honestly how some of it has made me feel.

One thing I found upsetting was this " -- an ethically questionable incentive for parents to a make a child's condition public in exchange for cash" It sounds like your saying is that I am just using my sons diagnosis for cash. When in all honesty it is being used for his care and treatment with his Doctor. I know some do not agree with our approach, but we know what works for our children and will continue to do what works. I see progress everyday!

Sincerely

Lisa

Tori Tuncan | Posted: 7 July 2009

Thanks, Jeff, for being tuned in to the Twitter conversation today with Alanna, and for raising this really important question. I'm quite interested to see what others think about this. And thank you for including the question about adults, since the thought is that Lend4Health could work for adults' health-related needs too.

Thanks!

Tori Tuncan