Bill to Regulate Men's Use of Viagra Introduced

[Coito ergo sum]

COLUMBUS – Before getting a prescription for Viagra or other erectile dysfunction drugs, men would have to see a sex therapist, receive a cardiac stress test and get a notarized affidavit signed by a sexual partner affirming impotency, if state Sen. Nina Turner has her way.
The Cleveland Democrat introduced Senate Bill 307 this week.
A critic of efforts to restrict abortion and contraception for women, Turner says she is concerned about men’s reproductive health. Turner’s bill joins a trend of female lawmakers submitting bills regulating men’s health. Turner said if state policymakers want to legislate women’s health choices through measures such as House Bill 125, known as the “Heartbeat bill,” they should also be able to legislate men’s reproductive health. Ohio anti-abortion advocates say the two can’t be compared.
Heartbeat bill sponsor Rep. Lynn Wachtmann, R-Napoleon, said comparing his bill to Turner’s would be like comparing apples to bananas. The Heartbeat bill would prohibit abortion once a heartbeat is detected, as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
“I understand some women think my bill is a personal affront,” Wachtmann said. “Protecting the unborn — to compare this to Viagra is not even related.”
Under Senate Bill 307, men taking the drugs would continue to be tested for heart problems, receive counseling about possible side effects and receive information about “pursuing celibacy as a viable lifestyle choice.”
“Even the FDA recommends that doctors make sure that assessments are taken that target the nature of the symptoms, whether it’s physical or psychological,” Turner said. “I certainly want to stand up for men’s health and take this seriously and legislate it the same way mostly men say they want to legislate a woman’s womb.”
States passed a record 92 abortion-related bills in 2011, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that focuses on reproductive health. At the same time, fewer than one in four state legislators nationwide are women — they number 23 percent in Ohio — according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

I am not getting the analogy here. I don't think that erectile dysfunction and abortion are the same thing, or similar.

I also don't think that "mostly men" want to regulate a woman's womb. In the US, a majority of women support some regulations on abortions. http://www.gallup.com/poll/118399/more- ... -time.aspx

[Audley Strange]

That is possibly the most absurd thing I have ever read that wasn't deliberately slanted to be so.

edited to add] It is real? It's not a satire?

[Drewish]

If it's real, then I think it's being done to make a point.

[Audley Strange]

If it's real, then I think it's being done to make a point.

Care to elaborate?

I ask because I see it turning half way through from being "my god look at the Feminazi Conspiracy in Guvmint" to "Guys, get your health checked out you fucking idiots".

It's weird.

[Drewish]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/us/te ... .html?_r=1



http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /120319979

[amused]

See:

http://rationalia.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... 5#p1138205

[Tero]

Apples to bananas!

They should also tie vasectomies to gun rights, as all those men are forced to shoot blanks. Even rapists.

[Coito ergo sum]

I think this would fall under the "be careful what you wish for" thing -- seeing a therapist and getting a cardiac stress test probably are good ideas if a man wants to use viagra. Erectile dysfunction can certainly have serious side effects, and ought not be treated as a laughing matter, and the cardiac stress test is important for men to get as they age in any event. If the pro-Lifer contingent were smart, they'd support this bill, with the modification that the form from a partner not be required, in order to protect those who are partnerless, but want to have satisfying solo sexual lifestyles. They should propose that amendment, and offer to co-sponsor the bill.

[Drewish]

This law isn't intending to pass people. It's about making a statement.

[Coito ergo sum]

This law isn't intending to pass people. It's about making a statement.

Yes, I know.

The pro-Lifers would have an opportunity to call that bluff, though, if they support the viagra bill. They should say -- "as a matter of fact, therapy and cardiac stress tests are quite reasonable. We'll agree to those." And, offer a deal for the passage of whatever bill they want in return...

[Svartalf]

I think this would fall under the "be careful what you wish for" thing -- seeing a therapist and getting a cardiac stress test probably are good ideas if a man wants to use viagra. Erectile dysfunction can certainly have serious side effects, and ought not be treated as a laughing matter, and the cardiac stress test is important for men to get as they age in any event. If the pro-Lifer contingent were smart, they'd support this bill, with the modification that the form from a partner not be required, in order to protect those who are partnerless, but want to have satisfying solo sexual lifestyles. They should propose that amendment, and offer to co-sponsor the bill.

Well, yeah, thing is, that kind of thing should be between a man and his physician, and up to the physician to determine whether such testing is actually necessary.
Plus, if the guy want to pull an Attila, dammit, it's his life to do away with.