Vitter Reviving Allegations of Government Death Panels

Posted: Jul 28, 2010 11:32 AM by Melissa Canone

WASHINGTON (AP) - Reviving allegations of government death
panels, Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana is suggesting that an FDA
advisory panel's negative recommendation on a contested breast
cancer drug amounts to rationing health care.
In a statement Wednesday, Vitter said the recommendation on the
drug Avastin was "sickening," likening it to a government panel
withholding care for a patient "because their life is not deemed
valuable enough."
Vitter's position puts him at odds with the FDA's independent
panel of cancer experts. The panel voted 12-1 last week to
recommend dropping the agency's endorsement of Avastin's use
against breast cancer, saying recent studies failed to show
benefits and found harmful side effects.
Some Republicans falsely claimed the Democratic health car bill
included death panels.

Topics: Vitter, Reviving, Allegations, of, Government, Death, Panels