Montana Is Not Ready For Experimental Treatment Centers
This would make us the Wild West for human experimentation
Senator Bogner’s SB 535 (SD 18) had it’s first hearing in Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety on March 28th. This bill was not on our radar but it definitely is now. The red flags were popping up left and right as we listened to the hearing. It all sounds well enough until you read the fine print of the bill and research each of the biotech companies represented at the hearing, all associated with the Alliance for Longevity Initiative.
Here are some of the companies who came from all of the country and internationally who were represented at the hearing:
https://a4li.org/
https://infinitavc.com/
https://www.thalion.global/
https://infinitavc.com/
https://www.thalion.global/
The hearing is about 35 minutes long and I recommend you listen. Here is the link.
Here is the bill text:
Our Board Chair, Dr Christine Drivdahl-Smith, has sent the letter below to the committee members of the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety addressing our biggest concerns. The best option would be to have this bill tabled in committee. We are asking for concerned Montanans to also email or call the committee to ask that this bill be tabled. We are all for medical freedom and right to try, but only under ethical and responsible conditions.
PLEASE create a log in and send an email to the entire committee:
https://participate.legmt.gov/
We anticipate executive action on this bill tomorrow, April 2nd.
DR. CHRISTINE DRIVDAHL-SMITH, MD
Miles City, MT 59301
April 1, 2025
RE: SB 535, Revise laws related to experimental treatments
Members of the Senate Public Health, Welfare & Safety Committee:
I am writing to ask that you table SB 535.
After review of the bill and listening to the testimony given on 3/28/25, I have several concerns:
1. This bill would allow clinics to be established within the state that would engage in human experimental treatments by physicians and researchers from across the country, or the globe, who are not licensed to practice medicine in the State of Montana. Rather, only the medical director of the facility would be required to have a Montana license. I am fairly certain that this is not legal according to the Montana Board of Medical Examiners. My experience as a licensed practicing physician in Montana for the past 26 years is that every physician who is providing medical care for patients in Montana must have a valid Montana license. I have seen this with radiologists who live in other states or countries, but read emergent radiology exams for hospitals in Montana. https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/med/renewal/phy-app.pdf
2. This bill would allow for human experimental trials using the “right to try” law as a cover. Over 30 states have passed “right to try” legislation which seeks to allow patients who are terminally ill the right to try therapies that are still considered experimental, or to try fully approved medications that are being used “off-label". This bill would allow for human experimentation, trialing therapies for chronic and/or progressive medical conditions, or to extend one’s natural life. This does not meet the traditional intention of “right to try.”
3. Having a stand-alone clinic sanctioned by the state would bypass the usual checks and balances that accompany such human experimentation, including legal and ethical oversight, compliance with long held sacred medical vows regarding informed consent, and doing NO HARM. It is an entirely different playing field if a healthy patient is seeking experimental care to “increase longevity,” rather than attempting to thwart a terminal illness.
4. Other issues that may need to be addressed:
a. Licensure and oversight by the Montana Board of Pharmacy
b. Biohazard and radioactive waste disposal
c. Appropriate mitigation with regards to waste water and sewage discharged from human experimental clinics
d. Impact on the existing medical facilities, and staff, who may have to care for patients who sustain injury, or adverse effects from experimental therapy
In conclusion, there are too many red flags with this legislation, please table SB 535 to avoid unintentional legal, safety, and ethical dilemmas.
Sincerely,
Christin Drivdah-Smith, M.D. (E-signed 4/1/25)
Christine Drivdahl-Smith, M.D.
I don't know how to process this after the crap that was pulled with ivermectin, Hcq & any & all alternative therapeutics during COVID. They made medical ethics more a matter of convenience/ profit over people thing than a "do no harm" thing. Makes you think twice about bills like this one.