The Illinois House has approved a measure that would grant greater access to experimental drugs for terminally-ill patients.
Rep. Greg Harris is the chief sponsor of the legislation. The Chicago Democrat and other backers of establishing a "Right to Try" Act in Illinois say it gives those who have exhausted conventional treatments a chance at drugs that have only passed the first phase of federal testing and increases patient choice.
The measure passed with a vote of 114-1. It now moves to the Illinois Senate.
The lone "no" vote was Rep. Al Riley. The Democrat from suburban Olympia Fields says that he agrees with the concept of allowing more options for the terminally-ill but had concerns about safety.
