What are the benefits & risks of participating in a clinical trial?
Clinical trials that are well-designed and well-executed are the best approach for eligible participants to: • Play an active role in their own health care. • Gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available. • Help others by contributing to medical research. There are also risks to clinical trials: • There may be unpleasant, serious or even life-threatening side effects to treatment. • The treatment may not be effective for the participant. • The protocol may require more of their time and attention than would a non-protocol treatment, including trips to the study site, more treatments, hospital stays or complex dosage requirements.
