Knowing Your Rights -- the Informed Consent Process

If you've had a procedure in a hospital, you may have had to sign a consent form. An informed consent for a clinical trial is a more specialized consent and it has a very distinct purpose: it is designed to protect you, not the research staff.

You will be given an informed consent document as part of a conversation you have with the research staff before you participate in a trial. The informed consent will explain:

the purpose of the trial
what treatments or procedures you will undergo during participation
a schedule
an explanation of the risks
potential benefits of the trial
your rights as a participant

Use the written informed consent as a basis for asking any questions you may have about the clinical trial process.

Signing an informed consent does not obligate you to participate in the clinical trial. Even though you sign the consent, you can change your mind and leave a study at any time.