The right to try drugs

As California’s right-to-die measure, Senate Bill 128, inches forward in the California Legislature, a parallel bill dubbed “right to try” has been been approved by the Assembly and now heads to Gov. Jerry Brown for approval.

Whereas SB 128 would allow terminally ill patients to end their lives with the assistance of a physician, Assembly Bill 159 would allow those patients to request experimental medications that haven't been approved for use by state and federal regulators, according to The Sacramento Bee. Drug makers would decide whether to provide the medication, and the bill would protect doctors and insurers from liability in case of negative effects.

Some groups, including the Association of Northern California Oncologists, have raised concerns about experimental drugs harming patients or giving them false hope.