Questions to Ask
As you can see, you will have many considerations to weigh in making a decision about participating in a clinical trial. To help you keep track of all this information, here are a few key questions you should ask:
- What are the eligibility criteria for the trial, and do I meet those criteria?
- What are the potential side effects of the new treatment, and are there steps in place to treat side effects?
- Will participation in a clinical trial mean travel to another medical facility, city, or state? If so, how often?
- How much of my time will be required for the tests?
- Can members of my family accompany me to treatment?
- Does my insurance cover the costs of this clinical trial's treatment? Will the project "sponsor" pick up any of the costs?
- I know I can stop the trial at any time. If that happens, what next?
