August 16, 2010 10:57AM 

# Why Should Politicians and Bureaucrats Decide Whether Breast-Cancer Patients Can Take Avastin? 

By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) 

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Today’s *Washington Post* contains an article titled, “[FDA Considers Revoking Approval of Avastin for Advanced Breast Cancer](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/15/AR2010081503466.html).” An excerpt:

> The debate over Avastin, prescribed to about 17,500 women with breast cancer a year, has become entangled in the politically explosive struggle over medical spending and effectiveness that flared during the battle over health-care reform: How should the government balance protecting patients and controlling costs without restricting access to cutting-edge, and often costly, treatments?

A better question is: why should the government be the one to strike that balance? Why shouldn’t some women be able to sign up for a health plan that covers Avastin, while others are free to make a different choice?

##### Related Tags 

[Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Health Care](https://www.cato.org/health-care) 

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