WASHINGTON – Virginia lawmakers want to give terminally ill patients the chance to try unapproved drugs when all other treatments have failed.
Virginia House and Senate leaders say legislation that would expand access to investigative drugs for terminally ill patients is working its way through both chambers.
The “Right to Try” legislation was inspired by a seven-year-old Fredericksburg boy named Josh Hardy and the fight for his life.
Aimee Hardy, Josh’s mother, attended a news conference in Richmond Monday morning with House and Senate leaders.
“I really just pray that other families don’t have to go through what we went through,” Aimee Hardy said.
Hardy and her family started the #SaveJosh campaign. They fought to save Josh’s life by pushing to get access to a lifesaving treatment that had not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Josh Hardy turns nine next month.
Both the House and Senate versions are set for a third and final reading. If passed, the bills would then go to the governor for consideration.
