College Students -Targets of Clinical Trials

College students are actively targeted by clinical trials in student newspapers, radio advertisements, flyers in bathroom stalls, and posters around college campuses. Some students are solicited while visiting student health centers! Clinical trials monetary compensation is appealing to students who are struggling with money. Some students see clinical trials as harmless and an easy way to make money. Is easy money worth the potential dangers of participating in a clinical trial? Clinical trials have serious consequences including illness and death. Before college students consider participating in a clinical trial they need to be well informed so that they are not exploited.

Clinical Trials Basic Facts

A clinical trial is research conducted on human participants to determine the safety and effectiveness of medication, treatment, and medical techniques. Research studies include prevention options, new and existing treatments, screening and diagnostic techniques and quality of life trials.

Informed Consent

Clinical trials are required to provide potential participants with key facts about a clinical trial prior to participation. Participants must be provided the informed consent document, details of the study, including the purpose, duration, required procedures, contact information, risks, potential benefits, and explains the rights as a participant. At anytime during a study a participant has the right to refuse treatments and test. A participant can withdraw from the study at anytime.

Clinical Trials Infamous History In Third World Countries

In India and other third world countries pharmaceutical companies conduct clinical trials testing medications and various pharmaceutical products. Participants of these studies are not given informed consent nor informed that they are participating in a clinical trial. Clinic health workers conducting the clinical trials directly lie to participants. Participants are falsely led to believe that the medication or product is safe, no reactions will occur, and the product has been tested before. Clinical trials target impoverished people by promising monetary benefits including land, livestock, and money. Participants never receive monetary compensation. Some people are forced to participate by physical force or withholding salary. When participants experience negative side effects from medication or products they are not allowed to withdraw from the study.

References for Clinical Trials Infamous History:
Brown, Peter J.
1998 Understanding and Applying Medical Anthropology. California: Mayfield Publishing Co.
Coffman, C.C.
2001 Medical Anthropology, class given at University California, Irvine, Summer 2007
Deepa Dhanraj.
Something Like A War. England: 1991