Are Clinical Trials Safe?

New cancer drugs or treatments are tested and researched thoroughly before they are given to people.

Before a clinical trial begins it has to be approved, first by a group of independent scientists and then by a research ethics committee. These committees are often based at local hospitals and are made up of healthcare professionals and lay people.

There are other safeguards in place for patients taking part in trials. For example:

• the trial plan (protocol) must be judged safe and ethical by the ethics committee before it can go ahead
• the researchers must tell the ethics committee if there are any unexpected side effects
• the ethics committee can stop the trial at any time if they have any concerns
• you must be told any benefits and risks before you agree to take part
• you can stop taking part in the trial at any time

In practice patients on clinical trials are very well looked after.  They are closely monitored and get 1:1 care from experienced trials nurses.