TIME

South Carolina Bill Would Make Getting Viagra As Tough As Getting An Abortion

The South Carolina lawmaker behind it knows it won't pass but wants to "broaden the discussion"

A South Carolina lawmaker is introducing a bill that would require men looking to get Viagra or other erectile dysfunction drugs to go through similar steps as women seeking abortions.

“I purposely tried to make it as invasive, as intrusive, as hypocritical and unnecessary as possible to make the point,” Rep. Mia McLeod, a Democrat from Columbia, told Charleston NBC station WCBD.

The bill would require, among other provisions: a 24-hour waiting period before getting the drugs; an examination from a state-licensed sexual therapist to determine that the patient’s erectile dysfunction was not related to “one or more psychological conditions”; three sessions of outpatient counseling; and a notarized affidavit from a sexual partner about the ED symptoms.

“Oh, I don’t think it’ll pass,” she said. “I really just want to broaden the discussion and get people thinking about and talking about some of the issues that women face who are seeking legal abortion services in this state.”

[NBC News]

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