15 Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Clinical Trials

  Even though you may have heard of clinical trials before, there’s a lot of information that you might not have. This information can heavily influence whether or not you should consider joining a trial so it’s good to know which questions to ask.  Why You Might Need A Clinical Trial As the name suggests, clinical trials are designed to test methods of treatment, diagnosis, or monitoring for specific illnesses. These trials can provide excellent data that health personnel may use to treat other persons with the disease. By participating in a clinical trial you may get access to medications or devices that aren’t yet available but could be more effective than what you’re currently using. This access is critical for persons who have rare illnesses or are at the late stage of certain diseases. You may also provide health professionals with much-needed information about Black Americans and certain illnesses.  If you’re thinking about joining a clinical trial, you should get in-depth information from your doctor. You shouldn’t feel pressured to get everything done in one visit, though. You should be prepared to have follow-up questions as you learn more. 15 Great Questions About Clinical Trials 1. What phase is the...