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As you have learned more about the potential risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial and considered whether or not it is right for you, you may have asked yourself, are clinical trials ethical?
There are seven main guidelines for ensuring that clinical trials are performed in an ethical way.
Organizers of a clinical trial are required to answer all of the following questions affirmatively:1
The final two guidelines involve more participant-focused issues and include patient’s rights, clinical trial confidentiality, and informed consent in clinical trials.1
To learn more about the potential risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial, read "Are clinical trials safe?"
As a potential clinical trial participant, you have the right to fully understand the procedures and purpose of a specific trial before you agree to participate. A process called informed consent is in place to ensure that you are aware of all necessary information.2 Maintaining informed consent in clinical trials is an ongoing process, and the doctors or nurses running the trial will inform you about the trial’s key facts before you enroll, and they are responsible for informing you of any relevant information throughout your participation.
Once all of your questions about the trial have been answered, you will be asked to sign a form, called informed consent in clinical trials. This form confirms that you agree to participate in the trial. Feel free to ask any additional questions, clarify any language that you don’t understand, and/or take the document home to discuss your decision with your loved ones before you sign.
Clinical trials are necessary to determine the risks and benefits of a new potential treatment in a group of human volunteers. Giving your informed consent to participate and knowing your rights while participating are important parts of ensuring that the clinical trial process is ethical. There are many other safeguards in place to ensure clinical trial confidentiality and protect clinical trial data. You and your treatment team may decide that a clinical trial is not the right decision for you. Be sure to ask questions about your participation and to understand your rights in the clinical trial process, including the right not to participate.
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To read about clinical research for a specific health condition, or to search by disease area, please view the list of active clinical trials.