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You want to regulate our ovaries, uteri and order us to carry state-mandated children? Well, fine. We want to regulate your erectile dysfunction.

That’s the message of state Democratic Senator Nina Turner’s erectile dysfunction bill in Ohio (SB307). The bill is meant to inflict the same sort of humiliation and violation of privacy on men as mostly male legislators are inflicting upon women across the country, but is wisely being sold under the exact same disingenuous “concern” as Republicans sell their attempts to control women’s wombs.

Turner sweetly pointed out, “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.”

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SB 307 requires that:

(A) No person other than a physician shall issue to a patient a prescription for a drug intended to treat symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

(B) Prior to issuing a prescription for a drug intended to treat symptoms of erectile dysfunction, a physician shall do all of the following:

(1) Obtain from the patient a notarized affidavit in which at least one of the patient’s sexual partners certifies that the patient has experienced symptoms of erectile dysfunction in the ninety days preceding the date on the affidavit;

(2) Refer the patient to a sexual therapist approved by the state medical board for an assessment of the possible causes of the patient’s symptoms of erectile dysfunction and obtain a written report in which the therapist concludes that the patient’s symptoms are not solely attributable to one or more psychological conditions;

(3) Conduct a cardiac stress test and obtain a result, described in writing, indicating that the patient’s cardiac health is compatible with sexual activity;

(4) Notify the patient in writing of the potential risks and complications associated with taking drugs intended to treat erectile dysfunction and obtain the patient’s signature on a form acknowledging the patient’s receipt of the notification;

(5) Declare in writing, under penalty of perjury, that the drug the physician is prescribing is necessary to treat the patient’s symptoms of erectile dysfunction and attach to the declaration a statement that clearly describes the physician’s medical rationale for issuing the prescription;

(6) Place all documents described in divisions (B)(1) to (5) of this section in the patient’s medical record and retain the documents as part of that record for not less than seven years.

These steps are all sound medical suggestions that are often overlooked out of courtesy to a man’s ego and in deference to his privacy.

Sen. Turner defended her bill as standing up for men’s health, “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. 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.”

The take away is that Senator Turner is going to use legislation to “protect men’s health”, just as Republicans are using legislation to control women under the auspices of protecting health.

There’s nothing like a first hand experience of governmental overreach punishing citizens for things they have no control over and controlling their private organs to help Americans decide that the Republican war on women must stop immediately. Senator Turner is reminding lawmakers that they are setting a precedent that can be applied both ways.

We’re only doing it because “we care”, cried the white men legislating themselves into control over every American woman’s body. Guess what, boys? This ain’t the 1950s and you will pay a price for the relentless war on women. See state Senators Turner and Davis for starters.

We’re mad and we’re not going to take it anymore. And, oh, hey, please proceed because we’re just getting warmed up.

(Note: This bill was proposed in 2012.— Jason Easley)