The Clinical Trials Guru

Your Rights While You Are Participating in a Clinical Trial

If you are ever considering joining a clinical trial, there are a few major things you will need to know that are study-specific. These are risks and benefits of the trial, possible side effects, and nature of the study and procedures involved. However, no matter what study you may end up participating in, you need to know that you have many rights that protect you as a study volunteer. If you feel that any of these rights have been violated or not followed appropriately, you should contact the IRB (Institutional Review Board). They are the committee whose sole responsibility is to ensure the safety of trial participants, and their number will be on the Informed Consent that you have to sign before or on your first study visit.
Here are your rights:
-You must be FULLY informed of the risks of the trial
-You must give FULLY informed consent
-You can stop participating at any time for any (or no) reason
-You can refuse any research procedure done to you
These are your basic rights in any study. It is in your best interest to be as informed as possible about all of the details of the study, but these are the big things you need to keep in mind. Just keep in mind that the research clinic also has the right to withdraw you from the study at any given time even if you still want to continue. These decisions are usually made by the Doctor in charge of the study, and believe it or not, happen often enough for me to mention here. Also, the site does not have to pay you for incomplete visits, although they should pay you for the amount of total studies that you did complete. Issues regarding payment are also found in the Informed Consent, and it is your responsibility to ensure that you are being compensated accordingly.
Throughout the study you should speak up about concerns and any questions you may have. Any reputable research clinic will make sure you have sufficient time to have your questions answered.