Health Affairs July 6, 2020
Two years after the federal Right to Try Act was signed into law, the worst fears of the law’s opponents—that patients would be exploited and otherwise harmed—have not come to fruition. But this isn’t because the law turned out better than expected. To the contrary, it’s barely been used at all. Despite President Donald Trump’s claim that right to try could help hundreds of thousands, fewer than 10 patients are publicly reported to have received unapproved drugs through this pathway.
A new for-profit cancer clinic is aiming to change that. However, as explained below, this initiative poses serious concerns for patients and illustrates the flaws of right to try.
Expanded Access Versus Right To Try
Right to try allows seriously...