One pregnant woman opted for an abortion three weeks ago because she felt she couldn't afford to pay for prenatal care, said Dr. John Jackson of Memorial Hospital in Schuyler.

A second patient is seriously considering terminating her pregnancy, although he is trying to talk her out of it, Jackson said....

... Jackson spoke Wednesday, shortly after a bill was killed in the NE Legislature that would have restored government-funded, prenatal care for low-income pregnant women, including many who are illegal immigrants.

... Advocates for the measure said they... also expect more reports of premature births, birth defects and stays in neonatal intensive care -- which they say will result in taxpayer expenses that could have been headed off by providing less-expensive preventive care....

... Jackson... said he is telling his pregnant patients that the hospital won't turn them away because of lack of money.

"I never became a doctor to become rich," he said. "It's important that we protect people at their most vulnerable."

~Omaha World Herald, March 18