Earlier this month, the Michigan House Health Policy Committee one step closer to approving SB991 (Right to Try). Michigan would become the fourth state behind Colorado, Missouri and Louisiana to approve the popular bill, which provides hope to patients who have exhausted traditional treatment options.
Designed by the Goldwater Institute, the Right to Try Act enables terminally ill patients under the care of their physician and cooperating pharmaceutical companies to receive medicines that have passed the basic safety testing phase of the FDA’s approval process, but may still be years away from market approval.
Under the current FDA system, it takes over a decade to bring a single life-saving treatment to market. For many terminally ill patients these experimental medications are their only hope. Sadly, gaining access to such medications can prove nearly impossible.
“This is about saving lives; Right To Try gives hope to those who no longer have it,” said Darcy Olsen, President and CEO of the Goldwater Institute. “We will continue to work throughout the country to ensure all Americans have the right to try and save their own lives.”
The Goldwater Institute is working with lawmakers in additional states to pass Right to Try laws across the country in 2015. Arizona voters will vote on the issue in the November General Election.
Developers of the proposition say it is a measure to protect the fundamental right for terminally ill patients.
“Proposition 303 is a proposition that makes sense for our community. Right To Try gives the terminally ill another chance when all other hope fails. The Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association fully supports and endorses Proposition 303,” said Tixoc Munoz, Executive Director for Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association.
Honorary Chairman, and thirteen-year-old Phoenix resident, Diego Morris released a statement with his family: “This is an important measure that my family and I support. When I was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer two years ago, I was afraid. Adding to my frustration was having to move 5000 miles away to receive treatment because our government could not approve “a study” after more than a decade. We thank the Peace Officer’s for understanding that families need to heal at home, and Prop 303 helps save lives and heal families.”