LINCOLN- LB1060, a new bill in the Nebraska Legislature introduced by Sen. Ben Hansen, the chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, would allow parents to refuse newborn health screenings, which typically involve blood samples being drawn from an infant's heel. Nebraska is currently one of three states that do not offer any exemptions from this screening.

Hansen said he introduced the bill to protect the rights of parents, and to allow them to make medical decisions for their child. "I see no reason to deny the option of consent," Hansen told the committee. Sen. Hansen also said that the bill does not aim to discourage parents from agreeing to newborn screenings, and actually stated that he hopes such evaluations remain the norm.

Many proponents of the bill agreed with this sentiment, arguing that the only problem is the fact that the screenings are required. Some parents who testified at the hearing said they had attempted to object to screenings involving blood samples for their newborns, citing the desire for a "pain-free birth." Timothy Tesmer, the state's chief medical officer, opposed the bill, saying mandatory screenings are necessary because of the serious risks involved with diagnosing some conditions too late.

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