Why join a clinical study?
People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons, but mainly they want to help themselves or help others. Volunteering for research studies can give patients access to promising new drugs long before they are available to the general public. Although there is always a chance that a new treatment will prove to be disappointing, there is reason to believe that it will be as good as, or better than, current treatments. Patients in these studies receive the benefit of medical specialization and expertise. Patients considering participating in clinical research should talk about it with their doctors and medical caregivers. They should also ask about the credentials and experience of the individuals and the facility involved in the study.
