April 4, 2008
'Abortion' Searches Are No Longer Blocked, Says Johns Hopkins U.
The Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health has reversed itself and will no longer block searches for the term “abortion” in its popular public health database Popline. Searches for the word had been blocked because of concerns over federal financing.
The U.S. Agency for International Development, which finances Popline and is legally prohibited from “supporting or encouraging abortion as a method of family planning,” had objected to two abortion-related items in the database, the university said. Database administrators then decided to make “abortion” a stop word in searches about seven weeks ago.
Michael J. Klag, the school’s dean, said in a prepared statement today that he “could not disagree more strongly” with the decision. He is having the block reversed and will hold an inquiry into the matter.
Gloria Won, the librarian who first noticed that something was awry with the database last Monday, said she was pleased with the reversal. She said she had been “disturbed” by the decision to block “such a useful word,” and had encouraged library associations and medical organizations to contact the university.
Some medical researchers argue that U.S. policies on reproductive-health programs may encourage censorship. The policies create “a chill on the overall willingness and enthusiasm for researchers to tackle this topic,” said Janie Benson, vice president for research and evaluation at Ipas, an international women’s reproductive health group that promotes abortion rights.
The Agency for International Development did not return calls seeking comment.—Catherine Rampell
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Give librarian Gloria Won a prize, Johnny! And add John Hopkins to the long list of institutions of higher learning and, uh, research, that have blood on their hands. Let’s give ‘em a hand for saving this “useful word” from near extinction.
— Douglas Apr 7, 08:48 AM #
Because if we remove concepts and words from our vernacular, particularly words repugnant to some of our sensibilities, that enriches us academically, eh Douglas? It’s the equivalent of covering your eyes and ears with a pillow to keep the big bad world out. God forbid Johns Hopkins or any institutions take this approach to education.
— Steven Apr 7, 10:07 AM #
Bravo! Johns Hopkins… There is still a voice of reason in the land… Unlike some, who say you have “blood on your hands…“They want to protect the unborn fetus, in order to later send them off, at 18 years old, to die in yet another unjust war… They are the ones with the blood of our countries sons and daughters on their hands!!! Some of us still believe that instead of “burning people at the stake” of support from the religious right… That a woman actually does have the right to choose… What a radical concept in the “land of the free…” Yeah right! Unless your a woman or a member of the new minority in our country, the middle class citizen who find themselves part of the growing underclass, who now cannot afford gas along with their medication…
— David Worth Apr 7, 10:17 AM #
What many seem to be failing to realize is that this issue really has NOTHING to do with the abortion debate — it’s about finding information. Information that can be used to support either side, but that needs to be available for a medical procedure (and one that is legally available at that). Information in and of itself holds no bias — it is the people that use that information that inject that into it — let the INFORMATION be free . . .
— Christina Apr 7, 10:50 AM #
In all seriousness, Gloria Won and Dean Michael Klag do deserve some kind of prize. In this perilous day, it takes real integrity and real Menshligkayt to obey one’s own mind instead of “our” government.
— Adam Reed Apr 7, 03:22 PM #
It’s bad enough when the Federal government destroys its integrity by bending and distorting and censoring science. But when an independent, private university with a good reputation becomes a meek sybarite to that government, it is a shame beyond shame. I’m glad I’m not a Johns Hopkins alum!
— Lawrence S. Lerner Apr 7, 10:56 PM #