US public health ‘word ban’ sparks outrage

WASHINGTON: The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s reported move to ban words including ‘fetus,’ ‘diversity’ and ‘transgender’ in budget-related documents triggered outrage, astonishment and calls for the decision to be reversed.

The Washington Post reported that policy analysts were told at a meeting of the forbidden terms, which one analyst said also included ‘science-based,’ ‘evidence-based,’ ‘vulnerable’ and ‘entitlement.’

Faced with a growing backlash, the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, termed the reported ban on use of the words a ‘complete mischaracterisation.’

“Among the words forbidden to be used in # CDCgov.budget documents are ‘evidence-based’ and ‘science-based.’ Here’s a word that’s still allowed: ridiculous,” the American Association for the Advancement of Science wrote on its Twitter account.

Michael Halpern, the deputy director of the Centre for Science and Democracy, said “effectively tackling public health challenges means being honest and open about risks and who faces these risks.”

“To prevent the agency from losing its legitimacy, CDC director Fitzgerald must speak up now to reinforce the centrality of science to the agency’s work,” Halpern wrote in a blog post.

The March for Science, which saw thousands of people protest in Washington and elsewhere earlier this year, called for the reported decision to be reversed. — AFP