There are both benefits and risks associated with clinical trials. By participating in a clinical trial, a person may benefit by:
- Helping others by contributing to medical research.
- Gaining access to new treatments that are not available to the public.
- Obtaining expert medical care at a leading health care facility during the trial.
Clinical trials have risks or drawbacks:
- There may be side effects or adverse reactions to medications or treatments.
- The treatment may not be effective for some individuals.
- The protocol may require a lot of time for trips to the study site, treatments, hospital stays, or complex dosage requirements.
