I was watching a show last night about a young man with motor neuron's disease. He has a young family and is devastated about his prognosis. He's part of a clinical trial, and I'd never thought about it until the reporter asked him how he would feel if he found out that he was taking the placebo. I know they need to have these studies to monitor how well the drugs work, but how mean does it seem to give one lot of the group potentially helpful medication, and one lot a placebo that will do nothing for them? Do people taking part in these trials ever find out what they are taking?Tuesday, November 8, 2011
About Clinical Drug Trials For Serious Illness?
I was watching a show last night about a young man with motor neuron's disease. He has a young family and is devastated about his prognosis. He's part of a clinical trial, and I'd never thought about it until the reporter asked him how he would feel if he found out that he was taking the placebo. I know they need to have these studies to monitor how well the drugs work, but how mean does it seem to give one lot of the group potentially helpful medication, and one lot a placebo that will do nothing for them? Do people taking part in these trials ever find out what they are taking?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Willie - I believe they do after the study is complete.
ReplyDeleteModerate Somber - It is a difficult ethical question, but there are some guidelines that are generally followed. Those who are given the placebo are also given extra standardized treatment which is already available in the market. Sometimes, even the researchers are not aware (double blind) who is and who is not in the control group, another clinical trial allows each group to take placebos at times and the actual clinical treatment at other times. This is the more balanced approach.
ReplyDeleteIt is necessary to have a control group, otherwise you cannot tell the benefits of the new treatment.
When there is no other hope and someone wants to live they may have an opportunity to volunteer. The participants do not find out which group they are in, however, it is possible that the participant, when the study is published might be able to figure out if there is narrative about that patient. No names are used, but bio-data is included. Such as, age, gender, dietary habits, diagnosis and effects.
Also, the selection process is random once qualified participants are identified, so there is no danger of favoritism or discrimination.
Gilda - Clinical trials are based on the difference between a control group and the test group, so there is no way around it. It's up to the patient as to whether they are willing to accept the risk.
ReplyDelete