My Body, My Choice?

By Daniel R. Matlis

No, it’s not what you think; I’m not going “pro” this or “anti” that on you.

I am referring to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposal to make experimental drugs widely and easily available to seriously ill patients.

According to Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Acting FDA Commissioner “This proposed reform is carefully designed to balance several objectives.” von Eschenbach added “One goal is to enable many more patients who lack satisfactory alternatives to have access to unapproved medicines, while balancing the need for safeguarding the individual patient. Another equally important goal is to ensure the continued integrity of the scientific process that brings safe and effective drugs to the market.”

The proposed rule is a direct response to a 2 to 1 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturning a lower court’s ruling in a case brought by the Abigail Alliance for Better Access to Developmental Drugs.

The court ruled that “barring a terminally ill patient from the use of a potentially life saving treatment impinges on the right of self-preservation.” Further, the court held that once drugs have passed safety trials, they should be made available if they might save someone’s life.

Judge Judith W. Rogers wrote “If there is a protected liberty interest in self-determination that includes a right to refuse life-sustaining treatment, even though this will hasten death, then the same liberty interest must include the complementary right of access to potentially life-sustaining medication, in light of the explicit protection accorded ‘life’.”

Dr. Janet Woodcock, FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Operations stated “FDA hopes this proposal will increase awareness in the healthcare community of the range of options available for obtaining experimental drugs for seriously ill patients,” she added that “By clarifying and streamlining the processes, FDA also hopes to encourage companies to make such drugs available, and reduce barriers for healthcare practitioners in obtaining them.”

The proposed rules, which are open for comment for 90 days, are described in detail at the following FDA web address: http://www.fda.gov/cder/regulatory/applications/IND_PR.htm

I hope and pray that none of us ever face such a choice, but if we do, it should be our choice to make.

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