What’s good for the goose is good for the gander
Democratic State Senator Nina Turner has introduced legislation designed to help men seeking treatment for their “erectile dysfunction” make “informed decisions”.
State Senator Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) announced legislation today that would protect men in Ohio from the risks of PDE-5 inhibitors, drugs commonly used to treat symptoms of impotence. Turner’s legislation would include provisions to document that the symptoms are not psychological in nature, and would guide men to make the right decision for their bodies. Physicians would be required to obtain a second opinion from a psychological professional to verify that a patient has a true medical malady before the medication could be prescribed.“The men in our lives, including members of the General Assembly, generously devote time to fundamental female reproductive issues–the least we can do is return the favor,” Senator Turner said. “It is crucial that we take the appropriate steps to shelter vulnerable men from the potential side effects of these drugs.“
The legislation follows the FDA’s recommendation that the evaluation of erectile dysfunction should include a determination of potential underlying causes and the identification of appropriate treatment following a complete medical assessment.
This joins an amendment being proposed by Virginia Democrat Janet Howell to force men to undergo a digital rectal exam before receiving a prescription, analogous to the forced vaginal ultrasound penetration being demanded for women seeking abortions in that state.
Another one in Illinois would require men seeking these “medications” to view a horrific video.
A bill in Georgia would regulate vasectomies. This one has the following most-awesome “findings”:
(1) Thousands of children are deprived of birth in this state every year because of the lack of state regulation over vasectomies;(2) There is substantial evidence that unregulated vasectomies result in fewer unwanted pregnancies and, by extension, fewer births;
(3) It is patently unfair that men can avoid the rewards of unwanted fatherhood by presuming that their judgment over such matters is more valid than the judgment of the General Assembly;
(4) Fewer unwanted pregnancies result in fewer children living in poverty and a lower prison population, and this is job killing in a time when social workers, police officers, and prison guards need the employment to feed their families; and
(5) It is the purpose of the General Assembly to assert an invasive state interest in the reproductive habits of men in this state and substitute the will of the government over the will of adult men.
A similar bill regulating vasectomies in Missouri states in part:
In determining whether a vasectomy is necessary, no regard shall be made to the desire of a man to father children, his economic situation, his age, the number of children he is currently responsible for, or any danger to his wife or partner in the event a child is conceived. A vasectomy shall only be performed to avert the death of the man or avert serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the man.
In Oklahoma, they have the “Every Sperm is Sacred” bill amendment from State Senator Constance Johnson that stipulates that:
[A]ny action in which a man ejaculates or otherwise deposits semen anywhere but in a woman’s vagina shall be interpreted and construed as an action against an unborn child.
Turner explained her legislation in an interview with Forbes:
“A prescription for medication of this kind should require an assessment that targets the nature of the problem—specifically to assess whether it’s psychological or physical,” said Turner by phone on Monday. “There are serious health risks and side effects associated with taking these treatments and I want to make sure that the fragile and vulnerable men of our country understand all of the factors before they take the drugs.” To that end, Turner’s legislature includes language to ensure men understand both the ramifications of their sexual health decisions, and, Turner said, “to make sure they understand that there are other options out there, whether they’re natural remedies or celibacy.”
More from Bloomberg:
“We want to make sure that men, vulnerable, fragile men, who are not capable of making decisions for themselves, understand all of the side effects and the implications of these types of drugs,” Turner said in a telephone interview. […]The Turner bill mimics provisions of the so-called heartbeat bill, including requiring a doctor to place medical records about prescriptions for erectile dysfunction in a patient’s file and keep them for at least seven years.
“If we are going to be in the business as policy makers of regulating sexual health or medical health, then we should do it across the board,” Turner said. “We should be equal opportunity in that.”
This is just so perfect. You can sign a petition to support Sen. Turner’s effort HERE. Please do.
[Image credit: Nina Turner]
