Understanding Clinical Trials

Myth: Once signed up, volunteers must complete the study.

Informed consent is a process of learning the key facts about a clinical trial before deciding whether or not to participate. It is a continuing process throughout the study to provide information for participants.

To help someone decide whether or not to participate, the doctors and nurses involved in the trial explain the details of the study. If the participant's native language is not English, translation assistance can be provided.

Then the research team provides an informed consent document that includes details about the study, such as its purpose, duration, required procedures, and key contacts. Risks and potential benefits are explained in the informed consent document. The participant then decides whether or not to sign the document.

This document includes all the information needed to help decide on whether to take part in the trial. Any volunteer who gives their consent has the following rights:

Download the Participant Bill of Rights

Leaving a clinical trial

Informed consent is not a contract, and the participant may withdraw from the trial at any time. You may leave the trial at any time, but should always let the clinical trial team know first, because some medicines should not be stopped without the doctor’s help.