CARSON CITY — The Nevada Senate has unanimously passed a bill allowing terminally ill patients to try experimental drugs.
Senators voted Tuesday to approve AB164. The bill already passed unanimously out of the Assembly.
The bill would allow terminally ill patients with less than a year to live to use drugs that have cleared the first phase of testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The proposal would also exempt doctors from punishment if they prescribe experimental drugs under the provisions of the bill.
Democratic Assemblyman James Ohrenschall said the law would lend hope to terminally ill patients and their families.
Nevada could soon become to latest state with so-called "right to try" legislation and would follow 14 other states that have that passed similar legislation.