A few readers have objected — in a few cases, quite heatedly — to our use of the phrase “abortion doctor” in our feature headline about the murder of Kansas Ob-Gyn George Tiller — the idea being that by not referring to him simply as a “doctor” or an “Ob-Gyn” we’re buying into the rightwing hysteria/demonization of doctors who carry out abortions.
I thought of this when we put together the feature. But headlines can only contain a few words. And referring to him as a “doctor” or “ob-gyn” wouldn’t have provided any information or context for why he was murdered or what the story was about. Some doctor got murdered in Wichita … Why is that a feature story? So, I understand and respect the criticism. But I thought this was the clearest and most appropriate way to headline the story.
Late Update: Several readers suggested some version of the headline we’ve now switched to in the feature spot to the right: “George Tiller, Doctor Who Provided Abortions, Shot and Killed”
