Bangor Studio/Membership Department
63 Texas Ave.
Bangor, ME 04401

Lewiston Studio
1450 Lisbon St.
Lewiston, ME 04240

Portland Studio
323 Marginal Way
Portland, ME 04101

Registered 501(c)(3) EIN: 22-3171529
© 2025 Maine Public
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Scroll down to see all available streams.

Maine Senate Votes to Support 'Right to Try' Bill

AUGUSTA, Maine - A bill that would give dying patients the right to use experimental drugs is winning support in the Maine Legislature.

The Senate on Wednesday gave initial approval to the so-called "right to try'' bill. The vote was 20-11. The House on Tuesday approved the bill.

The legislation would allow patients to use drugs that have passed the first phase of the Federal Drug Administration approval process but remain in clinical trials.

Sen. Geoffrey Gratwick, a Bangor Democrat who works as a physician, said experimental drugs can be toxic and that the current FDA drug approval process benefits patients and society.

Sen. Eric Brakey, an Auburn Republican, said the bill is needed because dying people don't have time for drugs to win approval.

Twenty-four states have similar laws on the books.