Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho House panel has introduced a bill that would allow terminally-ill patients to access drugs that are still being researched.
Democratic Rep. Melissa Wintrow of Boise says the legislation permits patients to use pharmaceuticals that have already passed safety tests by the Federal Drug Administration.
The House Health and Welfare Committee introduced the proposal Thursday. The bill must now clear a legislative hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.
Wintrow argues that the measure would dramatically alleviate the wait time and paperwork for patients suffering from diseases like Lou Gehrig's Disease. Patients would assume all liability and responsibility for using the drug, but they would be required to be under the care and supervision of a doctor.
Twenty-four other states have enacted similar legislation.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.