Abortions in Lincoln and Council Bluffs have been temporarily halted because of a leave of absence by a key member of the Planned Parenthood medical staff.
the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Sunday, May 4, 2008 7:00 pm
Abortions in Lincoln and Council Bluffs, Iowa, have been temporarily halted due to a leave of absence by a key member of the Planned Parenthood of Nebraska and Council Bluffs medical staff.
Bobbie Kierstead, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Nebraska and Council Bluffs, said abortion services were suspended sometime in the past few weeks and would return soon — which she defined as a matter of weeks. “(It) doesn’t mean three months from now.”
Kierstead said she could not provide more information about the person on leave, citing human resources privacy issues.
“It very definitely is temporary,” Kierstead said of the suspension of services.
News of the temporary halt was included in the May issue of Vital Signs, a publication of Lincoln Right to Life.
The pamphlet said: “The Planned Parenthood abortion facilities in Lincoln and Council Bluffs, Iowa, have apparently suspended abortion appointments. We are not certain as to the circumstances, or as to how long this may last but we celebrate the wonderful news that lives are not taken at either location.”
Kierstead said Planned Parenthood maintains two health centers in Lincoln providing a full range of reproductive health care, and abortions are provided at one of them.
A call to Lincoln Right to Life was not answered.