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Governor Pillen, Lt. Governor Kelly and Healthcare Professionals Respond to Misleading Ad Information About Pregnant Women’s Care

LINCOLN, NE — Governor Jim Pillen, Lt. Governor Joe Kelly and Nebraska health care professionals have responded to misleading information about the care available to Nebraska women experiencing miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies. The group pointed to recent television advertising that has led to confusion and misinformation. From a public health perspective, they believe it is imperative that healthcare providers and their patients are properly informed.

“This is not about the competing abortion-related initiatives that Nebraskans decide. This is about the current law and the questions that have arisen about pregnancy care,” said Governor Pillen. “This is about combating misinformation with the facts when it comes to treating women who experience miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.”

Dr. Timothy Tesmer, Nebraska’s chief medical officer, said he has heard from health care providers seeking clarity on the Newborn Child Protection Act in LB574, which passed the Legislature and was signed into law in 2023. It bans abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest and the mother’s life.

“Current law allows the removal of an ectopic pregnancy and the removal of the remains of a deceased newborn child, as well as any emergency involving the mother that necessitates the termination of the pregnancy,” explains Dr. Tesmer out.

He noted that to date, no physician in Nebraska has had their license penalized or revoked for complying with the law. Lt. Governor Kelly added that only those situations where a medical professional was found to have performed an unlawful abortion would be subject to disciplinary action. They would not face criminal sanctions.

Marcy Penrod emphasized the need for women to receive the most accurate information during pregnancy. For 25 years she was a medical assistant to a doctor who specialized in obstetrics and gynecology.

“I am very concerned at the moment about all the misinformation we hear on the public stage. Women deserve the truth and should know that our state laws allow and require doctors to address these medical issues when they encounter issues like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy,” Penrod said.

From the perspective of his 36 years of practice as an obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Robert Plambeck said he and other medical professionals work very hard to build relationships and trust with their patients. These relationships often last many years. Incorrect information about medical treatments can have harmful consequences.

“When that kind of information is allowed to spread through different forms of media, it becomes a problem, not just for me and my patients, but it becomes a public health crisis,” said Dr. Plambeck. “Women who experience challenging and distressing situations during their pregnancy deserve our support.”

Dr. Richard Wurtz, who has worked in primary care in Lincoln for 30 years, agrees. “Patients come to us expecting us to speak the truth and provide them with the most accurate information so they can make good medical decisions for themselves and those they love. But when the forces of disinformation about this basic medical care come into focus, it causes serious damage to public health and public trust in medical professionals.”

Elizabeth Jacobs-Fitzgerald has been a labor and delivery nurse for 30 years. She also works closely with families who have experienced miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and stillbirth. In those situations, where people are most vulnerable, accurate information is especially crucial.

“Misinformation confuses women and leaves them feeling desperate and alone at a time when they need to trust the health care community to guide them through their journey of pregnancy loss,” said Jacobs-Fitzgerald. “The lives of real women and the dignity of their unborn children are at stake, and we owe them the best medical advice and care we as a community can provide.”

“Public health is ultimately a matter of life and death and it is extremely important that people have the right information to make good decisions,” said Governor Pillen.

He and Dr. Tesmer encouraged medical professionals to use their best medical judgment and if they had follow-up questions about the law, they should contact the Division of Public Health at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Any woman who is told that she cannot legally receive care for a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy should also contact DHHS.

“The last thing we want in our state are women who are afraid that they cannot receive medical help in such situations based on incorrect information,” Governor Pillen emphasizes.

(From left to right: Elizabeth Jacobs-Fitzgerald, Dr. Robert Plambeck, Marcy Penrod, Governor Pillen, Dr. Tim Tesmer, Lt. Governor Kelly, Dr. Richard Wurtz)