BlogBenefits and risks of participating in a clinical trial Benefits and risks of participating in a clinical trial Posted Date : Dec 1, 2009 Benefits Clinical trials that are well-designed and well-executed offer excellent opportunities for eligible participants to: Play an active role in their own health care. Obtain referrals to a study site. Engage care partners as companions in care. Gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available. Obtain expert medical, sometimes multidisciplinary, care at leading health care facilities during the trial. Help others by contributing to medical research. Enhance personal knowledge of a medical condition. Risks There are risks to clinical trials. Depending on the study design, there may be no guarantee that the participant will receive the active ingredient. There may be unpleasant, serious or even life-threatening side effects to experimental treatment. The experimental treatment may not be effective for the participant. The research may require collection of data, for example, genetic information, that could potentially cause psychological or informational harm. The research criteria may require lifestyle modifications, for example, dietary changes. The protocol may require more of the participant’s time and attention than would a non-protocol treatment, including trips to the study site, more treatments, hospital stays or complex dosage requirements. The experimental drug may not be approved by Health Canada and, if approved, may not be covered under provincial drug formularies. Share this post: Your Story Matters: Inspire and Connect Inspire hope and connect with others by sharing your Parkinson’s journey. Your voice can make a difference. Share your story Discover more like this May 2, 2025 Living with Parkinson’s: How anxiety and depression became part of my story May 1, 2025 An interview with Dr. Margaux Teil Apr 30, 2025 Beyond accessibility – adjusting for the full human experience