Kudos to Ohio State Senator Nina Turner and cosponsor Sen. Charleta Tavares. In state capitols all across America male legislators have demonstrated unprecedented concern this year for the health and well-being of women, introducing approximately 430 bills aimed at ensuring that women are fully aware of all the potential consequences of having an abortion. Now come Sens. Turner and Tavares with S. B. 307, An Act To Require Physicians To Take Certain Actions Before And After Issuing Prescriptions For Drugs Intended To Treat Symptoms Of Erectile Dysfunction. Their aim: to make sure men are fully aware of all the potential consequences of taking ED medications.
As detailed in Sec. 4731.45, Section B of the proposed legislation:
<!–more–>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.
(C) To ensure the continued health of a patient to whom a prescription for a drug intended to treat symptoms of erectile dysfunction has been issued, a physician shall do both of the following as part of the physician’s course of treatment for the patient, including treatment rendered by issuing to that patient a prescription authorizing one or more refills for the drug originally prescribed or a prescription for another drug intended to treat symptoms of erectile dysfunction:
(1) Require the patient to undergo a cardiac stress test every ninety days while the patient is taking the drug to ensure that the patient’s cardiac health continues to be compatible with sexual activity;
(2) Require the patient to attend three sessions of outpatient counseling within a period of not less than six months after the drug is initially prescribed for purposes of ensuring the patient’s understanding of the dangerous side effects of drugs intended to treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
The physician shall ensure that the sessions include information on nonpharmaceutical treatments for erectile dysfunction, including sexual counseling and resources for patients to pursue celibacy as a viable lifestyle choice.
Now if only female legislators in the other 49 states would show as much concern for the health and well-being of their male constituents….
