Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson issued his opinion Friday that health care providers can legally prescribe off-label medications like Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 so long as they have informed patient consent. The opinion comes in response to a request by Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services CEO Dannette Smith. She wanted the AG's office to look into whether doctors could face discipline or legal action under Nebraska's Uniform Credential Act (UCA) if they prescribed the meds. The UCA is meant to protect public health, safety and welfare and is enforced by DHHS. "After receiving your question and conducting our investigation, we have found significant controversy and suspect information about potential COVID-19 treatment," Peterson wrote. Peterson pointed to multiple medical journal articles, research, and case studies. You can read his full opinion here. The AG's office concluded that based on its findings, there was not "clear and convincing evidence" that physicians who obtained informed patient consent would be violating the UCA if prescribing Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine off-label for the virus. However, if they did neglect to obtain consent, deceive, prescribe excessively high doses, or other misconduct, they could be subject to discipline. "We emphasize... our office is not recommending any specific treatments for COVID-19. That is not our role," Peterson wrote in his conclusion. "Rather, we address only the off-label early treatment options discussed in this opinion and conclude that the available evidence suggests they might work for some people. Allowing physicians to consider these early treatments will free them to evaluate additional tools that could save lives, keep patients out of the hospital, and provide relief for our already strained health care system." In a statement to KETV NewsWatch 7, DHHS said: "The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) appreciates the AG’s office delivering an opinion on this matter. The document is posted and available to medical providers as they determine appropriate course of treatment for their patients."