Right to Try

While potential treatments for many terminal illnesses were in the FDA’s clinical pipeline, Trickett was prescribed the same medications her father was given in the 1990s.

Sen. Johnson meets Tim and Trickett Wendler on 5/8/14 at a Constituent coffee in Washington, DC.

“patients and patient advocacy groups remain concerned about the time it takes to approve new treatments through the clinical trial pipeline.”

– Sen. Ron Johnson

“The right to try to save your own life is the most personal right we have. It is unethical and unconstitutional for government to deny patients that right. In America today, terminal patients have the right to hasten their deaths through right to die laws, but they do not have the right to try to fight to live. You can get drugs to end your life but not to save it. I think most of us would agree there’s something desperately wrong with that.”

– Darcy Olsen, President and CEO of the Goldwater Institute

“The purpose of this hearing now is to put a face — a human face — so that we in Congress can make some intelligent decisions here, so that we can try and break through the legitimate concerns, whether it’s the FDA or the drug manufacturers."

– Sen. Ron Johnson

“The cost of delays in approving or granting access to therapies is paid in human lives. I urge the FDA to consider those lives when making final decisions on this and all potential life-saving drugs. It is time to give these patients hope."

“We write to express our concern about the ongoing delay to complete review of this drug and to emphasize the urgency with which all applications for drugs addressing debilitating, terminal, and rare conditions must be considered”

“Duchenne is a nearly 100 percent fatal disease, and patients like Jordan McLinn have been crying out for the FDA to complete its review of this promising treatment.”

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“I write to express my disappointment that you have declined the committee’s invitation…”

“For the millions of patients fighting for a chance to try, we must do what we can to help them. Right to Try is not a cure, and it’s not a miracle, but it is a way to hold on to hope,” Johnson said.

“Time after time we were just continually disappointed by the lack of progress being made in this area. So hope starts to fade. Having a bill like this introduced, giving somebody an opportunity for hope, is something that’s incredibly important.” Tim Wendler

“This right to try legislation, which basically gives patients the right to medications that can save their life.” – Laura McLinn about her son, Jordan, 7

“This is providing hope for us, for a better life. There shouldn’t be anybody standing in the way.” Matt Bellina

“Please consider joining our bipartisan coalition of senators and thousands of state lawmakers in supporting the principle that terminal patients deserve the right to try to save their own lives. If in your heart you decide you cannot co-sponsor, please allow these people some hope by not objecting to unanimous consent.”

Read the Article

“I am also troubled by comments in the press made by your staff describing this effort as ‘a cheap stunt.’ Nothing could be further from the truth, and those patients crying out for a right to try do not see it as such.

Read the Article

“I am hopeful the reforms and resources authorized in this legislation will accelerate the development of treatments and modernize the federal approval process.”

“There was an effort last night to pass the Trickett Wendler Right to Try Act by unanimous consent. I am disappointed that because of an objection unrelated to the bill, it was not allowed to pass. I am encouraged, however, by the growing list of co-sponsors (43 to date) that demonstrates strong bipartisan support for getting this bill passed on behalf of those with terminal illnesses who simply want the right to try to save their own lives. This momentum will move us into the next Congress where I look forward to working with Leader McConnell and Chairman Alexander to get this important piece of legislation passed.”

“As Frank Mongiello, who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stated when the Senate bill was first introduced over 16 months ago, ‘We don’t have the luxury of time.’ On behalf of Frank, Matt, Jordan, and Trickett’s family, we need to do whatever we can to ensure that Right to Try is passed by the House and signed into law as soon as possible,” the senators wrote in the letter.

“It’s disappointing to see the House fail to pass commonsense legislation that would give the right to hope to so many terminally ill patients in America. I pledge to work tirelessly on behalf of patients and their families until right to try is signed into law.”

 “Well done Wisconsin…Our federal bill is named in honor of Trickett Wendler, who died in 2015 fighting ALS. Now, we need the House to pass the Senate version.”

“Today, Congress restored a little freedom and hope to terminally ill Americans.”

Right to Try is now officially on its way to the President’s desk after being signed by Speaker Paul Ryan.

"Today’s right to try bill signing was a moment of deserved celebration for everyone who fought to return a little freedom and restore hope to terminally ill patients and their families. I applaud and thank them all. However, bureaucracies rarely cede their authority over our lives without a fight. So, we must — and we will — remain vigilant that these hard-won freedoms are implemented and preserved as intended.”

In discussing Sen. Johnson’s efforts, President Trump said “He doesn’t stop. He doesn’t give up.”

Listen to the Podcast

“We are in America. This is the land of the free, home of the brave. It should be up to patients, not the government to tell you what you can and can’t do.” Sen. Johnson

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson published an op-ed on RealClearPolitics.com highlighting the perspective of a frontline doctor treating COVID-19 patients in New York City.

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson forwards a letter with thousands of new signatures to President Trump, urging the president to help give patients the right to try hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the course of their COVID-19 diagnosis.

“To me, it is obvious that we should robustly explore every possible treatment to combat this pandemic at every stage of the disease. Why has there been such resistance to low cost, off the shelf therapies that might stop the progression of COVID-19 and help keep people out of hospitals and intensive care?

“I hope today’s hearing can answer that question and provide direction on how to correct this glaring blunder that has cost far too many lives.”

Senator Johnson discussed the importance of early treatment of COVID even as vaccines begin to be distributed.