Right to try laws

[PrincessFiona]

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHe...y/Ethics/48692

I tried to copy and paste the article but couldn't get it to work.

Where do you lean on this one? I'm in the camp that would give the terminally ill access even if it isn't rational.

[SoonerTexan]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/28/health...nate-drug-use/

It reminds me of this.

FWIW, the whole story was apparently much more complicated than the article makes it out to be. I'll leave it at that.

Where do you lean on this one? I'm in the camp that would give the terminally ill access even if it isn't rational.

This is my gut reaction. The problem is what happens when the outcome is bad and negatively affects the ability of others (perhaps more suited to the drug) to receive treatment.

I'm just glad I don't have to be the one making the decisions

[Ladybug]

As a drug company I would be hesitant. One really bad, heart string-pulling graphic picture story and you will be publicly skewered and vilified...preying on the sick, dying and vulnerable to patent a medication.

[Vanquisher]

I feel like right to try is, in general, a good thing. However, those patients who are terminal should not be included in mortality statistics of the drug, and it should not be a risk to companies to provide it. A patient should have to pay for the treatment.


Heidi

[Pollyanna]

I really really want to say that the terminally ill should have the right to try BUT I'm not sure (actually I know) you're not making rational decisions.

My folks were willing to try and pay for anything that would help my dad. Even stuff that was crazy dangerous. They were not thinking clearly in their desperation.

I also worry, like others mentioned, that drug companies would be vilified. Especially if you have to pay for the treatment. Then insurance companies would be vilified for not paying.

Like I said, I really want to say yes but I fear it could be a very slippery slope to badness.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

This is the inherent problem:

"In addition, if more people get access to drugs through right-to-try laws, they may be less likely to participate in the clinical trials that are essential to new drug development, say experts. Why risk being given a placebo when patients can be assured of getting the drug under a right-to-try law?"

No one will ever participate in a double-blind placebo controlled trial again (the only legit way to know if a drug works) if they can get the drug without the risk of getting a placebo. This is a gut-wrenching issue and I'd want my loved one to have special access to drugs as well but it basically means that needed drugs won't reach the market. You have to have people entering trials and they do run mid-point stats analyses in trials to see if the drug is working more effectively and they will stop the trial if there appears to be a strong positive effect from the drug and then provide then drug to ALL participants (Even placebo ones).