Columbia, SC (WLTX) - A South Carolina representative is trying to make it more difficult for men to get erectile dysfunction drugs.

Representative Mia McLeod said the bill mirrors abortion legislation that she said is ridiculous.

“In this state we have been overly concerned about women’s health and not men’s so if we’re planning to address that aspect of it, I think we should address men’s sexual and reproductive health equally,” McLeod explained.

The proposal stated that men would have to wait 24 hours, undergo cardiac tests, get counseling on celibacy as a valid life choice, and get a statement from their sexual partner stating that they have a problem before getting drugs like Viagra.

“You know a lot of times people laugh about that but it’s not funny for women who are forced to do the same when it comes to abortion,” McLeod said.



During the meeting lawmakers asked a pharmacist questions about the side effects of erectile dysfunction drugs.

Representative Justin Babmberg was also there and showed his support for the proposed legislation.

“Underlying all of this is this concept of equality and equality is no laughing matter, how we treat each other, how men treat women, that’s why I’m here as a men because how we treat women matters,” Bamberg said.

The bill passed the health and affairs environmental subcommittee meeting Wednesday.

McLeod said she doesn’t think it will get past the House floor but said even if it has no chance of becoming law, she’s getting her point across.

“Just looking forward to continuing that conversation, it’s already done what I wanted it to and that is to broaden the discussion, expose the hypocrisy and ultimately if I had my way to get government out of these very important and very private decisions,” McLeod said.

McLeod said she decided to write the bill after being assigned to a committee to investigate Planned Parenthood.

She said it was a waste of time and money and she's tired of seeing officials create hurdles for women and their sexual health every year.