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Seema Mohapatra, incoming health law professor at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, was interviewed by The Indiana Lawyer about the national right-to-try legislation signed into law in May.

In the July 11 story, Professor Mohapatra expresses skepticism about the impact the new law will have. The legislation does not guarantee patients will have access because drugmakers can still turn down requests for their experimental medicines. In addition, Mohapatra noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s expanded access program helps patients obtain medications that are still undergoing clinical trials.

Professor Mohapatra said the FDA’s program seems to be working well at providing a means to get the treatment while also helping to ensure patient safety and efficacy. In particular, the program enlists a review board to make certain that the patients have utilized all available options and are as well informed as possible about the potential risks of the experimental drug.

“Terminally ill patients are in a vulnerable position and the compassionate use program protects these patients,” she told The Indiana Lawyer.

Professor Mohapatra, a well-known health law teacher and researcher, will join the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law as a tenured Associate Professor in August.

An expert in the areas of health care law, public health law, international family and health law, and bioethics, Professor Mohapatra currently teaches Torts, Health Care Law, Bioethics, and Genetics and the Law at Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law.

Her research interests include the intersection of biosciences and the law, international family and health law, health care disparities in the United States, and informed consent. She has authored articles and book chapters on topics such as international surrogacy laws, inequality in healthcare coverage, and has earned media attention from the New York Times, Times of India, Huffington Post and National Public Radio.