The spice must flow.
Sen. Ruckelshaus has introduced SB 158 concerning “scleral tattooing.” I’m a big fan of Frank Herbert’s Dune. I even quoted him in my first law review article:
A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct.
Masson, Douglas J. (1996) “Fixation on Fixation: Why Imposing Old Copyright Law on New Technology Will Not Work,” Indiana Law Journal: Vol. 71 : Iss. 4 , Article 10 at p. 1050 (citing Frank Herbert, Dune (1964) at p.3).
But what’s that herniated citation in support of a 16 word quote have to do with scleral tattooing. Also, what the hell is scleral tattooing? Glad you asked. According to the Wikipedia page, scleral tattooing is the process of tattooing the white part of the eye. One of the pioneers of the process was a big fan of Dune. In the books, the Fremen – a people native to the planet of Arrakis with a diet heavy with the spice known as melange – have eyes that are entirely blue with no whites. He got the idea that, by injecting blue ink between the sclera and the conjunctiva, he could look like the Fremen.
Giving Senator Ruckelshaust the benefit of the doubt that he’s not secretly an enthusiast of House Harkonnen, my guess is that this bill is prompted by health concerns related to the practice. Also, it’s new and weird. Anyway, finally to the point. The bill would outlaw scleral tattooing unless performed by a health care professional within the scope of their licensure. Unlawfully performing the procedure would be subject to a fine up to $10,000, enforced by the attorney general’s office.
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