Clinical Trials and Our Health

This chapter discusses the increase in life expectancy in the U.S. since the 1900s. There is benefit from information generated from trials, irrespective of participation in them. This argues for a mind-set akin to that regarding jury duty. Most of us hope that we will not be called, but we also recognize that we have a duty to serve if called. By analogy, if we want our system of research to work, we have to do our fair share to make sure that it does. That means, when it comes to participation in trials for which we are eligible, we should be willing to consider such participation.

This chapter discusses the increase in life expectancy in the U.S. since the 1900s. There is benefit from information generated from trials, irrespective of participation in them. This argues for a mind-set akin to that regarding jury duty. Most of us hope that we will not be called, but we also recognize that we have a duty to serve if called. By analogy, if we want our system of research to work, we have to do our fair share to make sure that it does. That means, when it comes to participation in trials for which we are eligible, we should be willing to consider such participation.