Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Supported by

Bill Would Let Terminally Ill People Try Experimental Drugs

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada lawmakers are reviewing a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to use experimental drugs before they receive federal approval.

The Assembly Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to discuss AB164 on Friday. It would allow patients to use drugs that have cleared the first phase of testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

If passed, the so-called "Right to Try" bill would make Nevada the latest in a series of states to institute such legislation, which is being pushed by the Arizona-based libertarian think tank The Goldwater Institute.

Sponsor Message

Supporters argue that the FDA's approval process is too lengthy, and it's too difficult to get experimental drugs through the federal "compassionate use" exemption.

Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri and Michigan already allow limited use of not-yet-approved medications.
Copyright 2015 KNPR-FM. To see more, visit http://www.knpr.org/.