A Kentucky lawmaker has proposed a new bill that will place restrictions on men who are seeking prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra.
According to the Courier Journal, Rep. Mary Lou Marzian sponsored House Bill 396, which will require “Kentucky men would have to visit a doctor twice and have signed permission from their wives before obtaining a prescription.”
Marzian said that it is merely an effort to “protect men’s health” and “ensure they are informed about a drug with potentially dangerous side effects.”
“I want to protect these men from themselves.”
The bill also specifies that only married men would be able to obtain the drug and requires a man to make a sworn statement with his hand on a Bible, saying he will only use the drug for erectile dysfunction when having sex with his spouse.
Marzian acknowledged the bill is a “pointed response” to several of Kentucky’s anti-abortion measures that are currently circulating through the state’s conservative leaning House and Senate. She also admits the bill is meant to protest the intervention by a predominantly male General Assembly into women’s health.
One piece of legislation, Senate Bill 4, or the “Informed Consent” bill, requires women who are seeking an abortion to get counseling 24 hours in advance of the procedure from a health professional and the counseling must be in person or via live telecommunications.
“Do we really want a bunch or legislators interfering in private, personal, medical decisions?” she asked.
Marzian doesn’t believe her bill will get far in the male dominated legislative body, but she’s not done making waves for her colleagues in the House. The Louisville Democrat plans on filing a bill requiring potential gun buyers to obtain counseling 24 hours in advance from victims of gun violence before the purchase.
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