SALEM, OR -- A bill that will allow terminally ill patients to try experimental treatments that haven't been approved yet, is on its way to the full House.  The House Healthcare Committee approved the legislation this week.  State Representative Knute Buehler (R-Bend) spearheaded the bill.  "The medicine or device would have to have completed a phase one study.  And another restriction we agreed on is we changed the age to 15 and older."

But Steve Buckstein with the Cascade Policy Instiute feels the bill should include children. "House Bill 2300 would give adults that right, but not children under the age of 15.  Those who favor Right to Try let their state legislators know  that faced with a terminal illness, children should have the same right to try as adults do."

The FDA approval process is very expensive and can take up to ten years to complete.  This allows terminally ill patients to try the drugs before they're approved for market.