QUESTIONS TO ASK
Questions You May Wish to Ask When Considering a Trial
While patient safety is a major consideration in all clinical trials, it is normal to have additional questions about the process.
Here are some questions you and your loved ones might wish to ask your doctor:
About the trial
- Why is this trial being done?
- Why do the doctors who designed the trial believe that the treatment being studied may be better than the standard treatment? Why may it not be better?
- How long will I be in the trial?
- What kinds of tests and treatments are involved?
- What are the possible side effects or risks of the new treatment?
- What are the possible benefits?
- How will we know if the treatment is working?
- Will a placebo be used in the trial? What percentage of participants will receive the placebo?
Costs
- Will I have to pay for any of the treatments or tests?
- What costs will my provincial health insurance cover?
- Will I have to pay for treatment for any side-effects?
Daily life
- How could the trial affect my daily life?
- How often will I have to come to the hospital or clinic?
- Will I have to travel long distances to take part?
Comparing choices
- What are my other treatment choices, including standard treatments?
- How does this trial compare with the other treatment choices?
Patient-Related Links
Trevor's Story
Trial Terminology
Investigator / in-vess-ti-gaa-tor / n. – a person responsible for the conduct of the clinical trial at a trial site. If a trial is conducted by a team of individuals at a trial site, the investigator is the responsible leader of the team and may be called the principal investigator.