Georgia House approves ‘Right to Try’ bill for terminal patients

ATLANTA (AP) – The Georgia House has approved a bill that would allow people with terminal illnesses to use experimental medical treatments.

House lawmakers passed the “Right to Try” bill Tuesday by a unanimous vote. Rep. Mike Dudgeon, R-Johns Creek, introduced the bill during the 2015 session but it wasn’t scheduled for a vote by the full House last year.

The proposal would allow people to use drugs, medical devices and treatments that have completed the first phase of a federal trial and remain under study. Similar laws have passed in more than 20 states.

Dudgeon says people with terminal illnesses can’t afford to wait for completion of a federal review.

The bill now goes to the state Senate for review.