No. Clinical research is regulated by federal/national government and by the medical profession.
You are
protected
from unauthorized research without your consent through a process known as informed consent.
Informed consent means that your physician and/or study nurse will thoroughly explain the
clinical trial
to you and
may provide a package of information on the trial along with an informed consent form. The
informed
consent form
provides information on the length of the study, potential side effects (if known) from the drug
being
tested, your
rights to withdraw from the study, and how the study is considered completed.
The consent form will also explain how the study protocol is designed, whether or not a placebo
is to be
used, and
what kind of tests will be required. If you don't understand any of the terms of an informed
consent
form, it is
important that you ask your physician or nurse.
Once you are satisfied that you have a full understanding of the nature and scope of the trial
and decide
to proceed,
and if you qualify to participate, you may decide to sign the informed consent form. However,
remember
that you
always have the right to say no. If you are uncomfortable with what you are being asked to do in
the
study, or if
you don't fully understand it, or if you simply no longer want to participate, do not feel like
you have
to
participate.