I am dying of squamous cell carcinoma, and potential treatments are out of reach (jakeseliger.com)

Article summary

The author is dying of squamous cell carcinoma and believes that mRNA tumor vaccines could potentially save their life, but the FDA's slow approval process is preventing access to these treatments. The author argues that the FDA's cautious approach is killing people who could be saved by experimental treatments. The author is advocating for a stronger 'right to try' presumption, which would allow patients to access unapproved treatments. The author's situation is dire, with only weeks or months left to live.

Main themes

• right to try
• FDA approval process
• experimental treatments
• medical ethics
• patient autonomy
• regulatory agencies

What commenters say

• Patients should have the autonomy to try experimental treatments when they have no other options and are facing certain death.
• The FDA's slow approval process is killing people who could be saved by experimental treatments, and a more streamlined process is needed.
• Allowing access to experimental treatments could lead to unscrupulous companies selling ineffective or harmful treatments to desperate patients.
• The 'right to try' approach could be balanced by requiring patients to be fully informed of the risks and benefits of experimental treatments, and by having doctors involved in the decision-making process.
• Immunotherapies, such as mRNA tumor vaccines, show promise but also carry unknown risks, and patients should be able to weigh these risks against the potential benefits.
• The current system prioritizes avoiding harm over potentially saving lives, and this balance should be reevaluated.
• Patients who are terminal and have no other options should be able to try experimental treatments without interference from the government or regulatory agencies.
• The 'right to try' approach raises complex questions about informed consent, medical ethics, and the role of regulatory agencies in protecting public health.