State Senator Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) took an unorthodox approach this week to oppose a bill that would require women seeking an abortion to receive an ultrasound first. Citing the practice’s forced violation of a woman’s personal medical treatment, Howell thought that a different perspective was needed- and proposed an amendment requiring all men seeking Viagra to undergo a rectal exam and stress test.

Howell spoke to the Huffington Post on what she saw as inherent sexism in the proposed bill:

“We need some gender equity here. The Virginia senate is about to pass a bill that will require a woman to have totally unnecessary medical procedure at their cost and inconvenience. If we’re going to do that to women, why not do that to men?”

Seven women serve in the VA Senate, and all but one of them voted for the amendment. That representative, Sen. Jill Fogel (R-Fauquier), is the chief sponsor of the mandatory ultrasound bill.

Howell’s amendment was defeated, but narrowly, 19-to-21. Howell admitted she has no major desire to force men to be unduly probed; she described the effort as “a message”. The ultrasound bill itself passed.

What do you think? Should women be required to get ultrasounds?

[Source: The Huffington Post]

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