On the recordMarch 13, 2018
I thank Chairman Walden for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I have heard people say that this bill gives folks a false hope. There is no false hope. They know it is a Hail Mary pass. They know it is unlikely to succeed, but they are willing to make the decision and the choice to take that chance. I have heard that patients will be at risk, that they lose their safeguards. They have received a terminal diagnosis. They know they are at risk. They don't care about safeguards. They want to fight for life. They know they have that terminal disease or diagnosis and they may lose a few weeks, as we heard from my colleague, but they may gain years, and they are willing to take that risk. Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you, if I had a terminal diagnosis, I would even consider injecting monkey urine if I thought it would give me a few more months or a few more years with my children, who are currently 18, 12, and 10. Others may choose not to try something. They may not want the right to try. They may not want to try the Hail Mary pass, but they should have the choice. They should have the right to try.
