Lawmaker: Men Who Want Viagra Should Have To Watch Graphic ‘Side-Effects’ Video
Viagra (file; CBS)
A battle over that idea is brewing in the Illinois state capital. It’s linked to a controversial anti-abortion bill, CBS 2’s Mike Parker reports.
If an Illinois lawmaker gets her way, men seeking Viagra prescriptions for erectile dysfunction, will be required to watch a graphic video first.
“They need to see a visual depiction of the treatment for the most common side effect to Viagra use, which is priapism, and it’s not a pretty procedure to watch,” state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat, says.
Cassidy says she came up with the idea because of another Springfield proposal that would require physicians, before any abortion, to offer to perform an ultrasound examination and allow the patient to view it if she chooses.
“There might be a little fraction of women who might want to see that ultrasound, who might change their minds. If it saves one life in Illinois, I’m for it,” he says.
Cassidy counters: “It is inappropriate to insert the legislature into a medical decision in this way. It just isn’t right.”
Asked if her proposal on Viagra is equally wrong, Cassidy replied, “If we are going to do this, we need to do it in a way that is applied equally.”
Lyons says Cassidy is merely coming up with “an unfriendly amendment to cause confusion and a diversion.”
Cassidy says she is tired of politicians deciding that “women are incapable of making their own decisions.”
PRIAPISM TREATMENT VIDEO (EXTREMELY GRAPHIC)
Insane Sex Laws Inspired by Republicans
Some of the tongue-in-cheek ideas introduced across the country:
Delaware: By an 8 to 4 vote, the Wilmington, Delaware, city council recognized the personhood of semen because "each 'egg person' and each 'sperm person' should be deemed equal in the eyes of the government."
Virginia: As the state Senate debated requiring transvaginal ultrasounds for women seeking abortions, Sen. Janet Howell proposed mandating rectal exams and cardiac stress tests for men seeking erectile dysfunction meds. Her amendment failed by just two votes.
Georgia: Responding to a Georgia house bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, Rep. Yasmin Neal wrote a bill outlawing most vasectomies because they leave "thousands of children…deprived of birth."
Ohio: A bill introduced by state Sen. Nina Turner would compel men to get psychological screenings before getting prescriptions for impotence meds. "We must advocate for the traditional family," Turner said, "and ensure that all men using PDE-5 inhibitors are healthy, stable, and educated about their options—including celibacy as a viable life choice."
Illinois: State Rep. Kelly Cassidy proposed requiring men seeking Viagra to watch a video showing the treatment for persistent erections, an occasional side effect of the little blue pill. As she explained, "It's not a pretty procedure to watch."
Missouri: Protesting the legislature's vote to reject Obama's contraception coverage mandate, nine female lawmakers cosponsored a bill restricting access to vasectomies except for men risking death or serious bodily harm. "In determining whether a vasectomy is necessary," the bill reads, "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."
Oklahoma: When a zygote-personhood bill came before the state Senate, Sen. Constance Johnson penned an amendment declaring that ejaculating anywhere outside a woman's vagina constitutes "an action against an unborn child." Bonus: Johnson also suggested that any man who impregnates a woman without her permission should pay a $25,000 fine, support the child until age 21, and get a vasectomy, "in the spirit of shared responsibility." In response to the same bill, state Sen. Jim Wilson proposed an amendment requiring the father of an unborn child to be financially responsible for its mother's health care, housing, transportation, and nourishment during pregnancy.
Texas: Contesting a bill mandating sonograms before abortions, Rep. Harold Dutton unsuccessfully offered three amendments in a row. The first would have required the state to pay the college tuition of children born to women who decide against an abortion after seeing a required ultrasound image. The second would have subsidized the children's health care costs until age 18. When that failed, he lowered the age to 6. That didn't fly, either.
