Lawmakers hear emotional testimony from parents on an investigational drug measure
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Lawmakers hear emotional testimony from parents on an investigational drug measure

Date: February 26, 2014
By: Shannon O'Brien
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 1685

Intro: 
A proposal that would give terminally ill patients the chance to try alternative drugs prompted tear-filled testimonies at the state Capitol.
RunTime:  0:35
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The measure would allow patients to experiment with FDA stage-one approved drugs if all other treatment options failed.

Rick Suozzi's lost his daughter, Kim Suozzi, last year to brain cancer. 

She was denied certain trials because she did not meet the requirements.

Actuality:  SUOZZI.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "You all must pass this bill, you must, for people like that [pointing to a family behind him]. It's too late for my daughter, but it's not too late for these people."
 
Representative Jim Neely sponsored the bill because he said people should have the right to choose their treatment options.

Neely said a hospice agency thought the bill would cause false hope to patients.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Shannon O'Brien.

Intro: 
A measure that would allow terminally ill patients the chance to choose their own treatment options provoked emotional and heartfelt testimonies in a House committee at the state Capitol.
RunTime:  0:30
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The bill is known as the Right-To-Try Act and it would give these patients the choice to experiment with investigational drugs not fully approved by the F-D-A.

One man who has had multiple brain tumors testified in favor of the bill and said he would like Missouri to provide more clinical trials.

Rick Suozzi lost his daughter last year to brain cancer.

Actuality:  SUOZZI2.WAV
Run Time:  00:03
Description: "Well it was a promising drug that we researched and she was denied it."

 

Representative Jim Neely said one hospice agency had concerns the measure would provide false hope for suffering families.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Shannon O'Brien.