What are the risks and benefits?

Ethical and legal codes that govern medical practice also apply to clinical trials. Clinical trials follow carefully controlled protocols or plans that outline what researchers will do in the study. Most clinical research is federally regulated with built in safeguards to protect the participants. However, participants must understand and evaluate the potential risks and benefits of a study prior to participation.

Benefits

• Gain access to new research treatments before they are available
• Obtain additional information regarding a specific disease
• Play an active role in their own disease management
• Help others by contributing to medical research

Risks

• May experience unpleasant, serious or even life-threatening side effects to investigational treatment
• May require additional time and travel for research visits
• The experimental treatment may not be effective