Idaho Senate panel holds extensive informational hearing on bill to pause gene-therapy products for infectious diseases

The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee convened an informational hearing on Senate Bill 10 36 — titled the Doug Cameron Act — that would impose a moratorium on the administration of gene‑therapy products for infectious‑disease indications.

The measure’s sponsor, Sen. Brandon Shippey, told the committee the bill was prompted by a constituent’s injury and said the moratorium is intended to pause use of what the bill describes as gene‑therapy products until more study and oversight are completed. "This was not a brainchild of myself," Shippey said, noting the bill’s namesake and the constituent-led push behind it.

Supporters who testified described a range of adverse events they attribute to COVID‑19 mRNA and related products and urged a pause. Doug Cameron, who identified himself as the bill’s namesake, told the committee he was paralyzed after receiving a Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine and said his combined medical bills and out‑of‑pocket expenses…