Clinical trials have risks and potential benefits.  Although the specific nature of the risks and benefits vary based on the study and are described in detail within the study’s informed consent form, there are general risks and benefits to be aware of that are true to most studies.
 
Potential benefits include:

• access to new drugs and medical interventions before they are widely available

• close monitoring of your health care and any side effects

• a more active role in your own health care

• if the approach being studied is found to be helpful, you may be among the first to benefit

• an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to medical research

• new drugs and procedures may have side effects or risks unknown to doctors

• new drugs and procedures may be ineffective, or less effective, than current approaches

• even if a new approach has benefits, it may not work for you