HR 903

Abstract

Endorses the following principles as the Cancer Patients' Bill of Rights to express support that cancer patients in the State receive the best cancer care available: (1) cancer patients with complex cancers deserve access to specialized expertise and emerging treatments for their specific type of cancer, including precision medicine and genomic therapies, which are often only available at advanced cancer centers, (2) cancer patients deserve multidisciplinary supportive care while undergoing treatment, including care that addresses pain, emotional, and overall health needs, (3) cancer patients should have the opportunity to access emerging therapies informed by the latest cancer research through relevant early-stage and late-stage clinical trials, which are only available at cancer treatment institutions, (4) to the extent possible, cancer patients should be able to receive timely cancer care in their community, which is often supported by partnerships between community providers and academic institutions, and (5) cancer patients have a right to fully understand their diagnoses and be informed about treatment options in culturally appropriate and understandable languages.