The Right to Try
Segment # 262
Healthcare in the US is in terrible shape as we begin to hold Big Pharm, Big Food, and government oversight accountable for their incompetence and greed. The Right to Try is part of this and the government should just get out of the way.
In May 2018, President Donald Trump signed the "Right to Try Act" into law, fulfilling a campaign promise to expand healthcare options for terminally ill Americans
This legislation, officially known as the "Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017," allows certain unapproved, experimental drugs to be administered to terminally ill patients who have exhausted all approved treatment options and are unable to participate in clinical drug trials
Key Points of the Right to Try Act
Eligibility: The law applies to patients with life-threatening illnesses who have exhausted approved treatment options and are unable to participate in clinical trials
Drug Requirements: Eligible drugs must have completed the FDA's Phase I (safety) testing and be in active development
FDA Oversight: The law allows patients to bypass the FDA's expanded access program when requesting experimental therapies
Reporting: Manufacturers or sponsors are required to submit annual reports to the FDA on any use of drugs under the Right to Try Act
Liability Protection: The law limits the liability of drug sponsors, manufacturers, prescribers, or dispensers involved in providing eligible investigational drugs
Controversy and Criticism
Despite its intentions, the Right to Try Act has faced criticism from various quarters:
Limited Impact: Very few patients have actually used this pathway to access experimental therapies since the law's enactment
FDA's Existing Program: Critics argue that the FDA's expanded access program was already approving 99% of patient requests for experimental drugs, often within days
Safety Concerns: Some medical organizations expressed worries about patient safety, as the law allows bypassing FDA oversight
No Obligation for Manufacturers: The law does not require pharmaceutical companies to provide experimental drugs, potentially limiting its effectiveness
Current Status
For many families cancer is very personal, especially when the prognosis is bleak and bureaucratic obstacles slow down time sensitive decisions. The concept of right to try is ethically logical. COVID revealed some of the worst corruption in our US healthcare system inspiring more independent doctors, scientists, and medical publishers to provide information to open minded consumers. There has been a significant increase in cancers over the past four years. With Kennedy advising Trump you will see important legislation and executive orders to meet the challenge.
