So, anyone taken part in clinical trials?

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[Stingo]

Yes - but they weren't 'drugs' type. Based more on endurance and the reaction to the body in particular circumstances (heat/cold etc).

Originally Posted by rubberduckofdeath

What with this story all over the news for the past few days...

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/17032006/35...coma-year.html

Lee.

No. in a word.

I didnt ever consider it seriously as i was always scared that something like this would happen. The idea of taking a drug that no one knows how its going to react, just seems a little "suicidal" if you like.

I CERTAINLY wont be taking part now, after my fears have actually happened to some people.

However - i understand whole heartedly the reason and need for clinical trials to go happen. And whilst i would never do it, i hope that other people dont back out of the trials as a result.

Reading the article, this really hit me:

Mr Wilson's sister-in-law Jo Brown said: "The only sign of life Ryan has shown in three days is when his brother William kissed him and a tear rolled down his cheek.

I think this sentence on its own really brings to light the disaster of the whole thing. One minute a healthy 21 yo whos never taken drugs, never smoked, and who had a whole like ahead of him. Doing the trials to earn the cash so he could take his mum on holiday. A few minutes later... his life in the balance.

Im not a religious person.. but my thoughts and prayers are with the people affected.

[anna]

Whilst this is a terrible thing to have happened these people were paid for taking part in the testing and will have signed disclaimers in the beginning along with having it explained to them that these drugs have not been previously tested and they dont know what the side effects might be.

Many students I know whilst going through university did medical testing for extra money seeing it as an easy way to get money personally I was never tempted. Many of them were fine a few side effects to some of the drugs but the thing that concerned me was that some of them were on 3 month - 6 month trials taking various drugs and whilst they might not have experienced any side effects during or straight after this time the long term effects were unknown and how this might effect your health later on in life is still to be determined.

Personally I view it that you only get one life and I'd rather not gamble my health for a few extra £'s.

Again I am not saying this isnt a horrid thing to have happened, only that they took the gamble and it didnt pay off.

No, I just feel as though I have .


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Originally Posted by anna

Personally I view it that you only get one life and I'd rather not gamble my health for a few extra £'s.

Again I am not saying this isnt a horrid thing to have happened, only that they took the gamble and it didnt pay off.

Thats my view exactly Anna.

There are some things you gamble with, your V5 and keys for your car in a race perhaps, your car keys in a bowl at a swingers party, a load of cash at Las Vagas... but to gamble with your life? There are somethings you just dont gamble with. Not me anyway.

Now some may argue that by riding a bike, you are infact gambling with your life. Yes... but my riding style and observation has been tried and tested. To compare the two, you'd need to be riding your bike on a busy highway, with your eyes closed.

[Viney]

Yes. It went horribaly wrong...i used to be Rachel

What do you mean used to be?


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I've taken part in 2 trials. I'm due on one in April - then again, women never take take part in first time in human trials.

Anna, you are quite right, everyone who takes part in clinical trials sign a consent form that details exactly what has been done before, how it is expected to affect you, what will be done to you etc. There isn't a disclaimer as it would be unethical to ask someone to 'sign away' their lives for testing a drug. It merely says to check with your life insurance company in case participation invalidates it for the duration of the trial. All volunteers spend any amount of time they wish discussing the potential effects with a Physician before agreeing to the trial

All clinical trials in this country are legally bound by a code called 'Good Clinical Practice'. In it there is a quote 'The rights and well-being of subjects come above the interests of science and society'. It is against this that ethics committees and the MHRA base all previous scientific information on and the design of the trial before giving approval. The drug company has to conform to an equally binding 'Good Manufacturing Pratice' guideline. Without which it is not allowed to even repackage known drugs, let alone make any new ones.

What happened to those volunteers is very rare in this country. Wihtout going in to too much jargon it's hard to explain what happened. It isn't currently known what the cause of the reaction was (as has been stated in the press). Animal testing in the type of drug used is limited in its effectiveness but would have given some indication of whether the drug would be instantly lethal, it obviously didn't give that indication.

I don't work for Parexel, MHRA or Tegenero AG. I work for a similar organisation to Parexel. It is a misconception that volunteers get paid for trials. They receive money, yes, but it is compensation for lost wages, travel expenses etc and is regulated by the ethics committee. They have the power to reduce / increase payments to volunteers so the money is not a deciding factor for them.

Sorry for the long one - it's been a long week.

I did but not by choice....im sure the army was testing nerve gases and stuff on me when i was in Nam