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Trump Signs Controversial Right To Try Legislation Into Law

By Steve Goldstein
Published: Thursday, June 7, 2018 - 12:25pm
Updated: Thursday, June 7, 2018 - 12:26pm
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President Trump has signed the so-called "Right to Try" legislation into law.

At its core, Right to Try gives terminally ill patients the chance to use drug treatments that are in the Food and Drug Administration pipeline but haven’t been approved by the FDA for broad use. Nearly 40 states — including Arizona — have Right to Try laws in place, but the federal government didn’t until now.

Right to Try got its start in Arizona, with the Goldwater Institute involved in its origins. The Show spoke with Starlee Coleman, senior policy advisor for the Goldwater Institute and supporter of the legislation.

In February, nearly forty health-related organizations sent a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi expressing their “strong opposition” to the Right to Try legislation. One of those organizations is the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. The Show discussed their position with the organization's Vice President for Federal Relations and Strategic Alliances, Keysha Brooks-Coley.

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