Volunteering for a Clinical Research Trial People

Volunteering for a Clinical Research Trial

People accept to participate in clinical trials as volunteers for a number of reasons. In addition to fulfilling that inherent desire to help others, most people feel that participating in such trials helps move science forward (National Institutes of Health - NIH, 2014). Clinical trials, in essence, "look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease" (NIH, 2014). Personally, I have never participated in a clinical trial. Neither has any member of my family, or friend to whom I'm closely acquainted.

It is important to note, from the onset, that if I met the criteria for a future trial, I would most definitely participate in the same. I would volunteer because deep inside, I feel that this would be good for humanity. Diseases bring about a great deal of misery and suffering to people, confining some to their beds forever, causing others to die miserable deaths, and occasioning great suffering to families and friends of those who happen to be unwell. If I were to participate in some clinical trial, I would be part of the solution towards the eradication of diseases that cause others great pain and suffering. I would be helping doctors and researchers find a cure that could be of great benefit to those of us living at this time, and many more generations to come. Of course there are some risks of participating in clinical trials. I would, therefore, participate in a clinical trial after evaluating not only the benefits of participating in such a trial, but also the inherent risks.

There is need to ensure that clinical trials are undertaken or conducted within a strict framework of ethical principles and well-defined scientific and medical standards. The protocol, in essence, "describes the objective(s), design, methodology, statistical considerations and organization of the trial" (Fitzpatrick, 2005, p. 1). This very important document, as the author further points out, amongst other things defines the reason for trial, how the trial will be done, and what exactly will be done. Based on my understanding of the information included in the protocol, one of the questions I might ask of researchers prior to participating in clinical trials would be the risks involved. Like any other medical procedure, clinical trials have some risks, just as they have some benefits. I would, for instance, want to know if there are any life-threatening effects of the test, and whether I would experience any unpleasant feelings thereafter. Next, I would seek to establish the expertise of those undertaking the tests. It is my belief that as with any other medical procedure, the success and safety of the tests would be dependent on how experienced the staff undertaking the same are.