Posted by vfree, a resident of the Waverly Park neighborhood, on Jan 9, 2013 at 4:08 pm

Only the US Congress could be so arrogant to think they could pass a law to cure cancer.

Posted by USA, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Jan 10, 2013 at 1:19 pm

Congress directing scientific research

Who does she think she is? Al Gore?

Posted by gcoladon, a resident of the Slater neighborhood, on Jan 11, 2013 at 10:31 am
gcoladon is a member (registered user) of Mountain View Online

I would really like to find out why the federal government needs to be involved in this. Don't private entities like medical research labs and oncologists and drug companies and health insurance companies and hospitals all already have the incentives to develop cures for cancers? And if they don't, why is it the federal government's job to involve itself?

Posted by palo alto parent, a resident of another community, on Jan 12, 2013 at 2:21 pm

Recalcitrant Cancers are ones that are extremely hard to detect and cure. The is MUCH less incentive for medical research for these cancers and the patients often die before they can participate in clinical trials. This bill provides a framework for research for these cancers, the Government is not actually funding the research. The National Cancer Institute will provide guidelines for early detection, and establish a scientific framework within which they must “identify scientific advancements, evaluate the sufficiency of researchers, and outline a plan for ongoing research.”

Illnesses that are difficult to diagnose and cure are not financially lucrative to develop dures for, therefore the need for some government support.