International Nurses Association

If it were not for drug trials, many of the lifesaving drugs we all use might not be available today.   Obviously, drug trials are important for the development of medicines, but anyone that is entering a trial needs to be well informed.   Never encourage anyone to enter a clinical trial for financial compensation only, as trials should be to benefit medicines and medical technology.   What exactly is a Clinical Trial? Clinical trials may also be referred to as clinical studies.   In a clinical trial, human volunteers agree to be tested using potential treatments to determine if they should be approved for use in the general population.   Treatments can consist of drugs, medical devices, vaccine, blood product, or gene therapy.   All treatments have prior studies in animals to learn of potential toxicity, and have been approved for human trial.   The FDA assures the public; they are protecting the participants in any trial, and provides all pertinent information to the parti