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HB 8329

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- TERMINAL PATIENTS' RIGHT TO TRY ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Grace Diaz and 1 co-sponsor

Allows terminally ill Rhode Island patients legal access to unapproved experimental treatments when standard care fails, pending informed consent and medical eligibility.

04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 8329

Legislative bill overview

HB 8329 establishes a "Right to Try" framework that would allow terminally ill patients in Rhode Island to access experimental medications and treatments that have not yet received full FDA approval. The bill creates a legal pathway for dying patients to attempt unapproved medical interventions when standard treatments have been exhausted, provided they meet specific eligibility criteria and receive informed consent.

Why is this important

This legislation addresses a fundamental tension in healthcare policy: the desire to protect patients from ineffective or dangerous treatments versus respecting individual autonomy at end-of-life. For terminally ill patients with no remaining standard options, access to experimental therapies may offer hope, though it also raises questions about false hope, exploitation, and the proper balance between caution and compassion in medical decision-making.

Potential points of contention

  • Safety and efficacy concerns: Critics worry that allowing unproven treatments could harm vulnerable dying patients or distract them from palliative care, while proponents argue terminally ill patients should bear the risk themselves
  • FDA authority and pharmaceutical regulation: Tension between state-level "Right to Try" laws and federal drug approval processes; unclear how Rhode Island law interacts with existing federal Right to Try Act
  • Access and equity issues: Questions about whether experimental treatments would be available only to wealthy patients who can afford them, or how insurance/costs would be handled

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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