“Right to Try” experimental drugs?

Rep. Frank Edelblut is sponsoring a 2016 “Right to Try” bill, which allows patients with terminal illnesses to try experimental treatments without government approval.

Right now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows terminal patients to request access to experimental drugs.  Each request is reviewed within thirty days.

However, several states have passed laws to bypass the FDA process.  

Edelblut’s bill states, “The use of available investigational drugs, biological products, and devices is a decision that should be made by the patient with a terminal illness in consultation with the patient’s physician and is not a decision to be made by the government.” 

On the other hand, opponents of “Right to Try” legislation argue that the FDA process is not too burdensome and protects patients from dangerous treatments. 

Others argue that the real barrier to experimental treatment comes from pharmaceutical companies, who may charge excessive amounts for experimental drugs.