Each clinical study is carefully reviewed and approved by an institutional review board (IRB) or Ethics Committee (EC) to ensure that the study is ethical and study related risks are minimized. There may be potential benefits and/or risks to participating in a clinical study. Remember you may leave the clinical study at anytime if you are dissatisfied.
Is participating in a clinical study right for you?
Clinical trials are well-designed studies that may provide you with an opportunity to engage in new treatments that are often not widely available to the public and may offer other benefits, including:
- Encouraging you to play an active role in your own healthcare
- Helping others by contributing to medical research
Anyone interested in taking part in a clinical study should know as much as possible about the study, the procedures and exams that are required, and any expenses that may be incurred.
Below is a partial list of questions that, at a minimum, you may want to discuss with the study physician prior to consenting to a study. Please speak with your physician to determine whether or not participating in a study is right for you.
- What is the purpose of the study?
- What are the possible interventions that I might receive during the study?
- How is it determined which intervention that I might receive? (For example, is it by chance?)
- How do the possible risks, side effects and benefits of this trial compare to those of my current treatment?
- What tests and procedures are involved?
- Will hospitalization be required?
- Will I be reimbursed for my participation?
- What type of long-term follow-up care is part of this study?
- Who will oversee my medical care while I am in the study?
- What are my options if I am injured during the study?
- Will the results of the study be provided to me?