Common Misconceptions About Clinical Research

Clinical trials present an opportunity for many people to seek alternative treatment options for a range of illnesses and diseases, and are also often undertaken by those who have an interest in contributing to science and medicine by giving their time to clinical research.
There are indeed many benefits to clinical research, including the often improved outcomes of certain people with serious and non-serious medical conditions and a higher standard of care. With that said, there are also several negative myths that persist about these trials that can prevent people for signing up and enjoying many of these very real benefits.
The first myth about clinical research is that it is dangerous to participate in them, as the outcome of any given treatment is not yet adequately known by the researchers administering it. While it is true that the treatments have not yet been approved and long term studies about the risks and benefits of the treatment may not have taken place yet, this is not the whole picture.
In reality, treatment options that are available in trials have undergone extensive testing before they are even administered to humans, and when they are this treatment is only able to be administered if many strict regulations and safeguards are respected. It is extremely rare that something ‘goes wrong’ with clinical trials, and this is not enough of a reason in some cases to forgo them altogether.