Participation in clinical research fulfills a vitally important need to advance medical science for the benefit of patients.
People from all walks of life participate in medical research for a variety of reasons. Some who have an illness or disease are thankful for the opportunity to help doctors understand and develop treatments. These individuals may also be willing to receive an experimental treatment or the additional care available to participants. Healthy volunteers, on the other hand, may join a research study to help others and contribute to advancing medical science. Patients and physicians who participate must be aware of the benefits, and potential risks, of being a part of a research study.
Find resources that are useful if you are thinking about participating in a clinical trail. If you are a patient considering participation in a clinical research study, be sure to talk to your doctor, the study doctor, and your family to gather as much information as possible. Weigh all of your options before deciding what is best for you.