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Drug Access By Terminally Ill Passes Colorado House

DENVER (AP) - Legislation allowing terminally ill people access to unapproved drugs, a so-called "Dallas Buyers Club" bill, has unanimously passed the Colorado House.

Lawmakers voted 65-0 Tuesday to approve the bill, which lets terminally ill patients try drugs that are still completing clinical trials and haven't been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Similar bills are pending in several states. Some doctors oppose so-called "Right To Try" legislation, saying it could bypass important safeguards. But supporters argue doctors still would need to approve the use of investigational products.

The Senate will now consider the bill.

"Dallas Buyers Club" is a film about a determined AIDS patient who smuggled treatments from Mexico because they weren't cleared for use in the United States.

LINK: House Bill 1281

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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