FAQ
ClinicalTrials.gov - Benefits and Risks of Clinical Trials
Question: What are the benefits and risks of participating in a clinical trial?
Answer:
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- There are both benefits and risks associated with clinical trials. By participating in a clinical trial, you may benefit by:
- - gaining access to new treatments that are not yet available to the public
- - obtaining expert medical care at a leading health care facility
- - playing an active role in your own health care
- - helping others by contributing to medical research
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- Clinical trials may also have risks:
- - there may be unpleasant, serious or even life-threatening side effects from treatment
- - treatment may not be effective for some individuals
- - the study may require a lot of time for traveling to the study site, receiving treatments, or hospital stays
- - health insurance may not cover all the study costs
- - Additional Resource Information on clinical trials can be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov/info/resources
- Related Questions:
- ClinicalTrials.gov questions
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http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/ctbenefits.html