Clinical Trials

A doctor asks a parent or guardian to give their permission to allow their child to be part of a clinical trial; this is called consent.

Asking the boy's or girl's permission is called assent. This means the boy or girl must show they understand and want to be in the research study.

The doctor must first tell the parents, and the boy or girl, all the possible things that can happen with a clinical trial and answer any questions that the parents or child have.

You cannot be entered into a trial without your permission and your parents/guardians signing a consent form saying that they have also given their permission.