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We're Going to Help a Lot of People': Trump Signs 'Right to Try' Act to Give Hope to Nation's Terminally Ill

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WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump signed the Right to Try Act, a law that gives terminally ill patients the right to use experimental medication that has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

"This is very personal for me," Trump said. "As I proudly sign this bill, thousands of terminally ill Americans will finally have the help, hope and the fighting chance – and I think it's going to be better than chance – that they will be cured."

S.204, which passed the House last week, gives people access to unproven drugs after they've exhausted all treatment options or don't qualify for clinical trials.

"It's giving terminally ill patients the right to try experimental life-saving treatments and some of these treatments are so promising," said Trump. 

Earlier this year, the commander in chief touted the measure during his State of the Union address, calling it a "fundamental freedom" that could save lives.

Trump pointed out that the current FDA approval process could take "many years." 

On the flip side, many Democrats have said the bill gives patients false hope and could put them in danger.

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About The Author

Ben
Kennedy

Ben Kennedy is an Emmy Award-winning White House correspondent for CBN News in Washington, D.C. He has more than a decade of reporting experience covering breaking news nationwide. He's traveled cross country covering the President and scored exclusive interviews with lawmakers and White House officials. Kennedy spent seven years reporting for WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami, Florida. While there he reported live from Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Matthew hit the island. He was the first journalist to interview Diana Nyad moments after her historic swim from Cuba to Key West. He reported