Questions to Ask
The first step is to ask your doctor if a specific clinical trial may be appropriate in your particular case.
Read the Informed Consent Form. Feel free to take it home and discuss it with people you trust. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign the consent form.
It is in everyone’s best interests to make sure participants feel comfortable asking the research team questions about the study, related procedures, and any expenses or reimbursements to expect. In deciding for yourself or your child, consider the following:
- What is being studied?
- Why do researchers believe the intervention being tested might be effective? Why might it not be effective? Has it been tested before?
- What are the possible treatments that I might receive during the trial?
- Is there a control group that receives a placebo or no treatment?
- Who will know which treatment I receive during the trial? Will I know? Will members of the research team know?
- How do the possible risks, side effects, and benefits of this treatment compare with my current treatment?
- What will I have to do?
- What tests and procedures are involved?
- How often will I have to visit the hospital or clinic?
- Will hospitalization be required?
- How long will the study last?
- Who will pay for my participation?
- Will I be reimbursed for other expenses? When?
- What type of long-term follow-up care is part of this trial?
- If I benefit from the treatment, will I be allowed to continue receiving it after the trial ends?
- Will results of the study be provided to me?
- Who will oversee my medical care while I am in the trial?
- What are my options if I am injured during the study?
Sources: www.clinicaltrials.gov ; www.genome.gov ; www.cancer.org