PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Rhode Island House has passed a bill to let terminally ill patients obtain experimental drugs that haven’t been federally approved.

The House passed the measure 70-1 Wednesday. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Democratic Rep. Joseph McNamara of Warwick says he introduced the bill because he wants to give hope to those individuals. He says terminally ill patients should have the “right to try” anything that might help them.

Five states – Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri and Michigan – recently enacted similar measures.