State-Subsidized Viagra for Rapists

[BPSCG]

What the #$%?

Okay, this somehow slipped through the cracks, and they're fixing the problem. But this seems to me to be a bigger issue. I mean, I have no objection, as a taxpayer, to paying for a law-abiding poor person's heart medicine or insulin or bifocals.

But paying for his erection? Could someone please explain the rationale for that to me? In terms that won't make me snort coffee through my nose or put my fist through the monitor, please.

 

[Reginald]

I read the same but Here at the BBC

And Initially my reaction was the same as your's. However, I read it through again and my reaction remained the same as yours.



Bizarre to the tenth power.

I too would be interested to see if anyone can skew or spin some explanation for the original policy.

 

[MRC_Hans]

I don't know about rapists, but otherwise, we had the same issue in Denmark, where in particular bikers in prison got issued a lot of Viagra.

I think the basic idea is that prisoners should be treated like other people, except for the little matter of the lock being on the outside of the door .

I don't quite understand this position, since I understand that "other people" generally have to pay for their Viagra, unless it is for a specific disease, and I have some difficulty imagining all these otherwise bouncing males suffering from pathological erectile dysfunction (got that expression from a spam mail ).

Also, due to the conspicuous absense of the persons of the female persuation in male prison sections, I have to wonder what it is all about.

But I must admit that I know very little about prison life (and I intend to keep that ignorance).

Hans

Hans

 

[BPSCG]

I think the basic idea is that prisoners should be treated like other people, except for the little matter of the lock being on the outside of the door .

My problem with this is, why should I be forced to pay for anyone's Viagra?

 

[Lisa Simpson]

My problem with this is, why should I be forced to pay for anyone's Viagra?

I agree. Viagra is a quality of life drug, not a necessity.

 

[Suddenly]

My problem with this is, why should I be forced to pay for anyone's Viagra?

That's more to the point. That is the question that is difficult to answer. I could come up with some answer that might make sense if the system weren't already in the toilet. I'll buy it is a legitimate medical need but I'm pretty sure it goes way down the list in priority....

As far as the main topic goes, these are released offenders after all, and otherwise eligible. Heck, we could even speculate that use of such a drug may enable them to have a normal sex life rather than need violent resistance or children to "get it up" (scientifically speaking).

Who knows. Another possible benefit is that I have a vague idea, having dealt with a serious sexual preditor or two, that all impotence will do for a rapist will turn him into a murderer. Rape is usually about power, not sex...

But all that is rampant speculation. Giving hard-on pills to convited rapists may be the ultimate no-brainer issue to jump on for a politician...

 

[RandFan]

My problem with this is, why should I be forced to pay for anyone's Viagra?

Thank you. Maybe we should classify porn and sex toys as medication. We wouldn't want people who can't afford a good time not to get it.

 

[Orangutan]

I initialy thought as you guys but then I thought about this..

What if the offenders need the medication to maintain an erection that would allow them a normal amout of 'release'. That without wich they could only achive while performing the same kind of acts that they were imprisoned for in the first place.

No, I'm not a doctor or psycologist but it seems a point worth exploring.

O.

 

[TragicMonkey]

My problem with this is, why should I be forced to pay for anyone's Viagra?

I may be remembering wrong, but wasn't there a fuss because Medicaid covers Viagra but not birth control?

 

[corplinx]

I may be remembering wrong, but wasn't there a fuss because Medicaid covers Viagra but not birth control?

Viagra is a fertility aid since it can help a man with arousal issues. It isn't just for wild parties in prison cells.

 

[BPSCG]

WTOP news in DC has a new "Knucklehead of the Week" feature. They mentioned this story on the air today and observed that it's a contestant for this week's award. Announcer explained - no lie - that it goes to the person, persons, or organization that "pulled the biggest boner this week."



Viagra for sex offenders is currently running away from the rest of the field.

 

[Upchurch]

Viagra is a fertility aid since it can help a man with arousal issues. It isn't just for wild parties in prison cells.

Okay, I'll admit ignoance when it comes to Medicare/Medicaid, but it was my impression that it helps pay for perscription medications only. If that is correct, what doctor is perscribing this stuff to sex offenders?

Okay, it's entirely possible that neither the doctor, the pharmasy, nor Medicaid have a way to know if someone is a sex offender, but shouldn't they?

 

[Cleon]

Okay, I'll admit ignoance when it comes to Medicare/Medicaid, but it was my impression that it helps pay for perscription medications only. If that is correct, what doctor is perscribing this stuff to sex offenders?

Okay, it's entirely possible that neither the doctor, the pharmasy, nor Medicaid have a way to know if someone is a sex offender, but shouldn't they?

AFAIK viagra is only (legally) available via prescription. Doctors do not have access to their patients' criminal records, nor should they (IMO).

Again AFAIK, Medicare/Medicaid doesn't do criminal background checks. That could be argued for or against I suppose, but they function as government-run insurance (more or less). I've never been on a health plan that does criminal checks.

 

[Upchurch]

I've never been on a health plan that does criminal checks.

Excellent point and I would have to agree. However, if there is no cross check, how can New York State prevent sex offenders from receiving state-subsidized Viagra?

(The obvious answer is to remove all Viagra from state-subsidy. Assuming they don't do that, what can they do?)

 

[BPSCG]

Okay, I'll admit ignoance when it comes to Medicare/Medicaid, but it was my impression that it helps pay for perscription medications only.

Medicare is health insurance. Medicaid is medical welfare. Medicare has a prescription drug plan (as of last year) that helps pay for some of your prescriptions (I don't know the details). Medicaid pays - AFAIK - for your entire prescription (there might be a small co-payment - I'm not sure).

If that is correct, what doctor is perscribing this stuff to sex offenders?

Okay, it's entirely possible that neither the doctor, the pharmasy, nor Medicaid have a way to know if someone is a sex offender, but shouldn't they?

No, they shouldn't, but that's not my issue here. I want to know what the rationale is for requiring me to pay for anyone's sex life. Yes, I am absolutely comfortable with the idea that I have some ethical obligation to provide food, clothing, shelter, and necessary medical care to those who are unable to do so for themselves.

But paying for someone to be able to service his old lady? Please.

 

[Cleon]

Excellent point and I would have to agree. However, if there is no cross check, how can New York State prevent sex offenders from receiving state-subsidized Viagra?

(The obvious answer is to remove all Viagra from state-subsidy. Assuming they don't do that, what can they do?)

One of two ways:

1) Start instituting criminal checks at Medicare/aid. (This strikes me as costly an inefficient, so they'll probably go with it.)

2) Provide a "black list" of people who are unable to get certain medications (Cialis, Viagra, etc) to Medicare/aid. (This is more efficient, but like the infamous "no-fly" list there might be some oversight problems.)

 

[RandFan]

IIRC most if not all insurance companies and or organizations have a list of approved prescriptions. Just because something is approved of by the FDA does not mean an insurance company or organization is obligated to pay for it. A criminal check is not an issue for me. I would suggest that Viagra not be an approved druged that is on any publicly funded program

 

[Soapy Sam]

Hans- Most prisons in Denmark are "open" prisons, to some extent. I would surmise that prisoners were getting the stuff free and selling it on the outside.
Prisoners in Denmark are also entitled to internet access, paid for by the state. There is pressure for a similar "right" here.

Now as internet access costs me about £22 a month, I'm less than delighted to hear I have to pay more tax to supply it to prisoners.

 

[Mason]

Regarding the prisoners, how can we truly know a rapist is reformed if he can't get a hard-on? I mean, maybe he hasn't reformed at all, but is simply having a dry spell.

We should hop them up on massive doses of Viagra and lock them in cells with chained-up child molesters. You know, just to be sure.

 

[Soapy Sam]

You're one of those Masons, I can tell.