Should I Participate in Medical Trials as a Patient Volunteer?

Deciding whether or not to participate in paid medical trials as a patient volunteer can be a difficult choice. On one hand, you may find a more effective method of treatment than the standard option. However, you may also leave yourself open to experiencing discomforting side effects as a result of the trial.  You should ensure that you talking to professional companies in order to find out the pro’s and con’s of taking part in each study. You will then be able to identify the studies that may be most appropriate for you and your current medical history.


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Clinical trials are carried out with the intention to decide whether or not a new medical treatment, such as a drug or device, can be used effectively on humans. Another important factor to discover during the research process is whether or not this new treatment is safe. After all, the FDA will not approve the treatment if the clinical trials carried out cannot prove the safety of the treatment.

Work with a Team of Professionals

Participating in a clinical trial means that you will be in constant contact with experts from the medical industry. This close proximity to expert medical advisors and researchers gives participants a unique opportunity to benefit from their specialist care, advice, support and guidance. In addition to this, they will be able to offer you advice on the best course of treatment following the clinical trial. You can be assured that any information that  is shared with the company will be treated in the strictest of confidence and data will be stored securely and then a Confidential waste disposal company such as https://www.printwaste.co.uk/ will be used to remove any items that contain sensitive information.

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Experience New Treatments

As a volunteer testing a new medical treatment or device of some kind, you could be amongst the first group of people to benefit from such a treatment. This could be incredibly exciting, especially if the treatment turns out to be really effective and perhaps even more so than the standard treatment.

Clinical Trial Risks

Despite the fact that participating in a trial comes with a range of great advantages, there are a few risks that you should be aware of before agreeing to volunteer:

  • Possible side effects that could come with the treatment.
  • Uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of the new treatment.
  • You may require additional check-ups and have to be monitored regularly.
  • The treatment may be ineffective and prove to be no better than the standard treatment.
  • The process can be time consuming.
  • You may have to spend more on transport to and from the clinic or trial site.
  • The new treatment could be potentially harmful and deemed unsafe after the clinical trial.