‘Bama House Passes ‘Right to Try’ Bill

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – The Alabama House has passed a bill that would give terminally ill patients the right to try experimental drugs.

The bill would authorize access to drugs that have completed a clinical trial but that haven’t been approved for general use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The House passed the legislation in a 97-0 vote Thursday.

Ten-year-old Gabe Griffin inspired the bill. Griffin has Duchenne muscular dystrophy which causes progressive muscle atrophy and often death by age 25. Griffin’s father Scott Griffin says he hopes Gabe’s generation might be the first to survive the disease.

House sponsor Rep. April Weaver says Alabama should do everything it can to remove “red tape” for patients.

Senate sponsor Sen. Cam Ward says the bill represents the type of legislation lawmakers should address.