| By participating in clinical trials, volunteers make an | | | | clinical trial? |
| important contribution to the advances in medicine | | | | - A chance to do something good - without the |
| and help to improve the quality of life for others. | | | | important contribution that volunteers make by |
| When a new molecule or substance that has | | | | participating in clinical trials, new life-saving treatments |
| potential is discovered in the laboratory, it will need to | | | | and medicines would never be able to reach the |
| undergo a series of stringent testing before it can be | | | | market. It is a good way of giving back to society. |
| declared safe and effective for human use. This | | | | - Excellent healthcare standards - volunteers |
| process is known as 'clinical testing' and clinical trials | | | | participating in clinical trials are provided with the best |
| are conducted to test whether the new drug or | | | | possible health care and no cost to them. |
| chemical compound is effective and more | | | | - People who suffer from a serious illness could gain |
| importantly, safe to be used by the general public. | | | | access to investigational or hard-to-get treatments |
| It is not always necessary for individuals who take | | | | that are not yet available on the market. |
| part in clinical trials to have an existing medical | | | | What are the possible drawbacks of taking part in a |
| condition or genetic trait. The study protocol will | | | | clinical trial? |
| outline the requirements for volunteers who are able | | | | - Volunteers may experience unpleasant side effects |
| to participate in the study and it is not always a | | | | as a result of participating in a clinical trial. All known |
| condition that these volunteers need to have a | | | | side effects will be disclosed to the volunteer before |
| certain medical condition, for example, if a cure for | | | | taking part however the effects of a new drug or |
| diabetes is being investigated. | | | | substance can not always be predicted. |
| People who wish to participate in a clinical trial will | | | | - Intrusive clinical procedures - participation in clinical |
| need to provide informed consent before taking part. | | | | trials may involve a number of unpleasant clinical |
| This will provide volunteers with all the information | | | | procedures, e.g. taking numerous blood samples |
| relating to the study, including all suspected | | | | throughout the study. |
| side-effects, before providing consent. It is important | | | | - No valid outcome - in some cases, the placebo, |
| to consider all the pros and cons before signing up to | | | | treatment, drug or vaccine being investigated may |
| take part in a clinical trial. | | | | prove to be ineffective or declared unsafe for |
| What are the possible advantages of participating in a | | | | further investigation. |