'Right to Try' Legislation Moves To The Senate

A bill that would allow terminally ill patients to try experimental drugs is on its way to the Senate.

Advocates of the so-called right to try bill first testified to the Senate committee last week.

The bill’s Senate sponsor Ed Charbonneau says it makes sense to let people with fatal conditions try medications even if they haven’t received final FDA approval.

“Rarely do we have the opportunity to testify about a bill where we can say pretty much without dispute that this bill will save lives," Charbonneau said.

But the Senate committee postponed a vote because of technical issues they said needed to be worked out.

The committee amended the bill Wednesday so it provides liability protection to all health care providers in connection with the experimental drug, not just doctors, pharmacists and hospitals.

After making the change, committee members unanimously passed the bill. It now goes to the full Senate for a vote.