| It seems that every week and sometimes even | | | | making advances in medicine. If one day a cure for a |
| everyday on the news there is a story about | | | | devastating disease like cancer, aids or diabetes is |
| advances in medical science. News reports often | | | | found, it will almost certainly be the result of |
| sensationalize the results of medical research studies, | | | | thousands of hours of lab work and research studies |
| often times before they are even completed. | | | | being done. |
| Unfortunately, while many clinical studies provide | | | | Of course, there is also some danger and risk |
| valuable data and lead to the creation of life saving | | | | involved for the participants of medical research |
| drugs and medical treatments, the vast majority of | | | | studies, as generally the drugs or techniques used on |
| trials do not. It takes many studies to prove a new | | | | them are still unapproved for wide spread use in |
| drug or medical technique successful, and many | | | | humans. In most cases drugs are first tested on |
| studies will not have the longevity needed in order to | | | | animals, and then on many different groups of human |
| successfully prove a claim. Sometimes this is because | | | | volunteers before being approved by the FDA. The |
| the drug or medical technique is proven ineffective, | | | | first groups of people who participate in such studies |
| and other times it is an issue of inadequate funding. | | | | generally take the biggest risk, with secondary |
| However, while many paid clinical trials will not lead to | | | | groups and onward having a lower level of risk. Of |
| new drugs or medical treatments (even those that | | | | course, even in fully approved medicines there is a |
| at first appear promising), it is important to | | | | risk of side effects. |
| remember that clinical studies are an integral part of | | | | |