Participating in a clinical trial

When you participate in a clinical trial, you may have access to new treatment options that are not available outside of the trial and that may be better than what is currently available. Your participation may also benefit others with the same disease in the future.

Before deciding whether or not to participate in any clinical trial, you should have the opportunity to talk with the research team about the details of the clinical trial. This process of learning the key facts, understanding the implications and giving your consent to participate is called informed consent. The research team will also provide you with an informed consent form that includes details about the study approach, possible risks and benefits and what procedures will be conducted. If you decide to participate in a clinical trial, it is important to remember that participation is always voluntary and you always have the right to choose at any time whether or not to take part.