Ms. magazine  -- more than a magazine a movement

SIGN UP FOR MS. DIGEST, JOBS, NEWS AND ALERTS
SEARCH

FEMINIST WIRE NEWSBRIEFS

ABOUT
VIEW SUMMER ISSUE
SHOP MS. STORE
MS. IN THE CLASSROOM
FEMINIST DAILY WIRE
FEMINIST RESOURCES
PRESS
JOBS AT MS.
READ BACK ISSUES
CONTACT
RSS (XML)
 
feminist wire | daily newsbriefs

April 7, 2008

Abortion Restored in Reproductive Health Database

Dean of the John Hopkins University Public Health School, Dr. Michael J. Klag, ordered the school’s federally-funded online database of reproductive health literature reprogrammed to restore the word 'abortion' as a search term. Administrators had set POPLINE, the world’s largest database on reproductive health, with more than 360,000 records and articles on family planning, fertility and sexually transmitted diseases, to ignore abortion as a search term.

The move to censor abortion-related materials was met with harsh criticism from libraries trying to access the articles and women’s health advocates, according to UPI. POPLINE representatives said that the decision to do so was tied to their funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), reports Medical News Today.

"The public should know why a federal resource would censor relevant medical information, and who directed such interference," said Ted Miller, communications director of NARAL Pro-Choice America, in a statement. "We applaud Dean Klag's decision to restore abortion's inclusion on the list of searchable health terms and look forward to learning how and why such interference happened to such a critical resource. Americans deserve to know whether politics played a role in this matter. It is important that government resources, especially those about health care, provide accurate and unbiased information."

Media Resources: United Press International 4/5/08; Medical News Today 4/7/08; New York Times 4/5/08; NARAL Press Release 4/4/08


© Feminist Majority Foundation, publisher of Ms. magazine

If you liked this story, consider making a tax-deductible donation to support Ms. magazine.

 

 

Send to a Friend
Their
Your
Comments
(optional)


More Feminist News

11/20/2009 Cervical Cancer Screening Policies Altered - The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists released new cervical cancer screening guidelines today. . . .
 
11/20/2009 Rape Kit Backlog Bill Introduced in House of Representatives - Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Dean Heller (R-NV) introduced a bill today in the House to address the national crisis of untested rape kit backlogs. . . .
 
11/19/2009 Suit Filed in Attempt to Force DC Definition of Marriage Vote - Bishop Harry Jackson filed a lawsuit against the Washington, DC Board of Elections and Ethics Wednesday, in an attempt to force a ballot initiative on same-sex marriage in the District. . . .