So, you want to be a test subject in a new medical study?  Personally, I think that being part of these studies is a huge mistake; however someone has to do it.  It is sad to think that we must have human test subjects before medicine can be approved for resale.  While a lot of these medicines have already been tested on animals and deemed safe for human use; there still can be unwanted side effects.  With all this aside, if you still want to be a test subject in a medical study, make sure you ask these questions before participating.

1. What are the side effects of the medicine or procedure being studied?
2. Who’s making money off me, and will that influence how they treat me?
3. Will it cost me money to be in this study?
4. What happened to other people who had this experimental treatment?
5. If the experimental treatment helps me, can I keep getting it after the study ends?

Link: Do you want to be a guinea pig?

Remember, this is your body and while the money might be good; this may not be the best thing for you to do.  You only get one body; make sure you ask as many questions as you can.  Get a feel for the company doing the test, make sure they are doing it for the right reasons.  Sometimes these tests can help someone get treatment for a condition they normally could not afford.  However, you need to remember that the drug is in the testing phase for a reason, it might not work:

If you’re going to join a study, be prepared for disappointment. Maybe the new treatment will work, but maybe it won’t. Burns spent two years taking a Parkinson’s drug that turned out to be a failure’ the patients on the placebo did better than the patients on the drug.

It is hit or miss, just make sure you do enough research before jumping into the study blind.

Justin Capasso

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