The bill amends Iowa's "Right to Try Act" to broaden the definition of eligible patients to include those with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses, alongside individuals with terminal illnesses. It introduces the term "individualized investigational treatment," which encompasses treatments customized to a patient's genetic profile, such as gene therapy and neoantigen vaccines. The definition of "written informed consent" is also updated to ensure patients are thoroughly informed about their treatment options and the implications of using investigational drugs or devices.

Furthermore, the bill establishes new rights for manufacturers and eligible facilities concerning the provision of investigational treatments. While manufacturers are not mandated to provide these treatments, they can do so without compensation or may charge for manufacturing costs. The legislation protects healthcare providers from penalties related to their recommendations for investigational treatments and ensures that patients' heirs are not held liable for debts incurred from such treatments. Overall, these amendments aim to improve access to investigational therapies for patients with serious health conditions while maintaining essential safeguards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 144E.2, 144E.3, 144E.1, 144E.5, 144E.6, 144E.7, 144E.8