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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 891
BY REPRESENTATIVES STOKES AND SIMON
HEALTH/MEDICAL TREATMENT: Authorizes access to investigational treatments for
terminally ill patients
AN ACT1
To enact Part LXXV of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to2
be comprised of R.S. 40:1300.381 through 1300.385, relative to access to treatment3
for terminally ill patients; to provide for findings, definitions, intent, and4
construction; to authorize provision of certain pharmaceutical and therapeutic5
products by manufacturers; to specify that gratuitous provision and insurance6
coverage of certain treatments are not required; to provide for limitation of liability;7
to prohibit actions against licenses of physicians in specific instances; and to provide8
for related matters.9
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:10
Section 1. Part LXXV of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of11
1950, comprised of R.S. 40:1300.381 through 1300.385, is hereby enacted to read as12
follows:13
PART LXXV. ACCESS TO TREATMENT FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS14
§1300.381. Short title15
This Part shall be known and may be cited as the "Right To Try Act".16
§1300.382. Legislative findings17
The Legislature of Louisiana hereby finds and declares the following:18
(1) The process of approval for investigational drugs, biological products,19
and devices in the United States often takes many years.20 HLS 14RS-911 ENGROSSED
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(2) A patient who has a terminal illness does not have the luxury of waiting1
until an investigational drug, biological product, or device receives final approval2
from the United States Food and Drug Administration.3
(3) The standards of the United States Food and Drug Administration for the4
use of investigational drugs, biological products, and devices may deny the benefits5
of potentially life-saving treatments to terminally ill patients.6
(4) A patient with a terminal illness has a fundamental right to attempt to7
preserve his own life by accessing available investigational drugs, biological8
products, and devices.9
(5) Whether to use available investigational drugs, biological products, or10
devices is a decision that rightfully should be made by the patient with a terminal11
illness in consultation with his physician, and is not a decision to be made by the12
government.13
§1300.383. Definitions14
As used in this Part, the following terms have the meaning ascribed to them15
in this Section:16
(1) "Eligible patient" means a person to whom all of the following criteria17
apply:18
(a) Has a terminal illness.19
(b) As determined by the person's physician, has no comparable or20
satisfactory treatment options that are approved by the United States Food and Drug21
Administration and available to diagnose, monitor, or treat the person's disease or22
condition, and the probable risk to the person from the investigational drug,23
biological product, or device is not greater than the probable risk from the person's24
disease or condition.25
(c) Has received a prescription or recommendation from his physician for an26
investigational drug, biological product, or device.27
(d) Has given his consent in writing for the use of the investigational drug,28
biological product, or device; or, if he is a minor or lacks the mental capacity to29 HLS 14RS-911 ENGROSSED
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provide informed consent, a parent or legal guardian has given informed consent in1
writing on his behalf.2
(e) Has documentation from his physician indicating that he has met the3
requirements provided in this Part.4
(2) "Investigational drug, biological product, or device" means a drug,5
biological product, or device that has successfully completed phase one of a clinical6
trial, but has not been approved for general use by the United States Food and Drug7
Administration and remains under investigation in a clinical trial.8
(3) "Terminal illness" means a disease that, without life-sustaining9
procedures, will result in death in the near future or a state of permanent10
unconsciousness from which recovery is unlikely. This diagnosis shall be confirmed11
by a second independent evaluation by a board-certified physician in an appropriate12
speciality.13
§1300.384. Availability of drugs, biological products, and devices; costs; insurance14
coverage15
A.(1) A manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product, or16
device may make available such drug, product, or device to eligible patients in17
accordance with the provisions of this Section.18
(2) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require a manufacturer to19
make available any drug, product, or device.20
B. A manufacturer may do any of the following:21
(1) Provide an investigational drug, biological product, or device to an22
eligible patient without receiving compensation.23
(2) Require an eligible patient to pay the costs of or associated with the24
manufacture of the investigational drug, biological product, or device.25
C.(1) A health insurance issuer may choose to provide coverage for the cost26
of an investigational drug, biological product, or device.27 HLS 14RS-911 ENGROSSED
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(2) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require a health insurance1
issuer to provide coverage for the cost of any investigational drug, biological2
product, or device.3
§1300.385. Limitation of liability4
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a physician who5
prescribes an investigational drug, biological product, or device to an eligible patient6
pursuant to the provisions of this Part shall be immune from civil liability, including7
but not limited to any cause of action arising under R.S. 40:1299.41 et. seq., for any8
adverse action, condition, or other outcome resulting from the patient's use of the9
investigational drug, biological product, or device.10
Section 2. The legislature hereby declares that allowing for the provisions of the11
Right To Try Act to apply to patients with nonterminal illnesses furthers the purpose of this12
Act.13
Section 3. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby directed to redesignate the14
numbers of the Sections of statute enacted by this Act in a manner that comports with the15
technical recodification provisions of the Act which originated as House Bill No. 667 of this16
2014 Regular Session of the Legislature.17
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Stokes HB No. 891
Abstract: Authorizes access to investigational drugs, biological products, and devices for
terminally ill patients.
Proposed law establishes findings concerning barriers that terminally ill patients may face
in access to potentially life-preserving treatments.
Proposed law provides the following definitions for purposes of proposed law:
(1)"Eligible patient" means a person who meets all of the following criteria:
(a)Has a terminal illness.
(b)As determined by the person's physician, has no comparable or satisfactory
treatment options that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration and available to diagnose, monitor, or treat the person's HLS 14RS-911 ENGROSSED
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disease or condition, and the probable risk to the person from the
investigational drug, biological product, or device is not greater than the
probable risk from the person's disease or condition.
(c)Has received a prescription or recommendation from his physician for an
investigational drug, biological product, or device.
(d)Has given his consent in writing for the use of the investigational drug,
biological product, or device; or, if he is a minor or lacks the mental capacity
to provide informed consent, a parent or legal guardian has given informed
consent in writing on his behalf.
(e)Has documentation from his physician indicating that he has met the
requirements provided in proposed law.
(2)"Investigational drug, biological product, or device" means a drug, biological
product, or device that has successfully completed phase one of a clinical trial, but
has not been approved for general use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and
remains under investigation in a clinical trial.
(3)"Terminal illness" means a disease that, without life-sustaining procedures, will
result in death in the near future or a state of permanent unconsciousness from which
recovery is unlikely. Provides that this diagnosis shall be confirmed by a second
independent evaluation by a board-certified physician in an appropriate speciality.
Proposed law authorizes manufacturers of investigational drugs, biological products, and
devices to make available those drugs, products, and devices to eligible patients. Provides,
however, that nothing in proposed law shall be construed to require provision of any drug,
product, or device by a manufacturer.
Proposed law authorizes a manufacturer to provide an investigational drug, biological
product, or device to an eligible patient with or without compensation.
Proposed law authorizes health insurers to provide coverage for the cost of an investigational
drug, biological product, or device. Specifies that nothing in proposed law shall be
construed to require such coverage by health insurers.
Proposed law provides that a physician who prescribes an investigational drug, biological
product, or device pursuant to proposed law shall be immune from civil liability, including
but not limited to any cause of action arising under medical malpractice provisions of
present law, for any adverse outcome resulting from a patient's use of the investigational
drug, biological product, or device pursuant to proposed law.
Proposed law provides that proposed law shall be known and may be cited as the Right To
Try Act. Declares that allowing for the provisions of the Right To Try Act to apply to
patients with nonterminal illnesses furthers the purpose of proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 40:1300.381-1300.385)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill.
1. In the set of criteria for a person to be considered an "eligible patient" pursuant
to proposed law, deleted consideration by the person of all other treatment
options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and added
in lieu thereof determination by a physician that the person has no comparable HLS 14RS-911 ENGROSSED
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or satisfactory FDA-approved treatment options available, and the probable risk
from the investigational treatment is not greater than the probable risk from the
disease or condition.
2. Relative to consent for types of treatment provided for in proposed law, deleted
requirement that the consent the patient gives in writing be informed consent.
3. Revised definition of "terminal illness" in proposed law to provide that such
illness be one that, without life-sustaining procedures, will result in death in the
near future or a state of permanent unconsciousness from which recovery is
unlikely. Provided that this diagnosis shall be confirmed by a second
independent evaluation by a board-certified physician in an appropriate
speciality.
4. Deleted provision prohibiting the La. State Board of Medical Examiners from
revoking, failing to renew, or taking any other action against the license of a
physician based solely upon the physician's recommendation regarding or
prescription for or treatment with an investigational drug, biological product, or
device.
5. Added provision establishing that a physician who prescribes an investigational
drug, biological product, or device pursuant to proposed law shall be immune
from civil liability, including but not limited to any cause of action arising under
medical malpractice provisions of present law, for any adverse outcome resulting
from a patient's use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device.
6. Deleted provision establishing a fine of $1,500 or less to be imposed upon any
official, employee, or agent of the state who blocks or attempts to block a
patient's access to an investigational drug, biological product, or device provided
for in proposed law.
7. Made technical changes.