Natalie Harp, a cancer survivor and member of a Donald Trump advisory board, credited the Right to Try law for saving her life [1].
The testimony highlights the impact of legislation that allows terminally ill patients to access experimental treatments before they receive full FDA approval. For Harp, the law provided a critical path to medical intervention that she said was the only reason for her survival.
Speaking in July 2020 [3] at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina [2], Harp delivered a message addressed to Melania Trump. During the appearance, Harp thanked President Donald Trump for signing the Right to Try law into effect [1].
"I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for you," Harp said [1].
Right to Try is a U.S. legal framework designed to bypass certain regulatory hurdles for patients who have exhausted all approved treatment options. Harp said the law was the mechanism that gave her access to the experimental cancer treatment she required [1].
In her remarks to the former First Lady, Harp also acknowledged the personal sacrifices made by the Trump family during the presidency. "You gave up so much," Harp said [1].
The 2020 convention served as a platform for Harp to publicly link her personal health outcome to the administration's legislative priorities [1], [3].
“"I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for you."”
The Right to Try Act represents a shift in U.S. healthcare policy by prioritizing patient autonomy and immediate access to experimental drugs over the traditional, centralized FDA approval process. While proponents argue it provides a final hope for the terminally ill, the law remains a point of debate among medical ethicists regarding patient safety and the rigor of clinical trials.
