Informed Consent and Placebo
I learnt that informed consent is the process of providing vital information concerning the nature of the research. One aspect that surprised me in relation to informed consent and placebo entails the right to know by volunteers rather than payment for participation in a medical research. I learnt that some researchers withhold vital information from the volunteers during the study while others resort to paying them for participation. I believe Volunteers should include all information in relation to a research practice before accepting to participate as guinea pigs’. This to me would enhance the autonomy of the participants with reference to the right to know and accept or agree to terms of the research practice. This would also protect physicians in case of mistakes or uncertainties during the research process.
Individuals would also enjoy protection against deceit by malicious medical practitioners. I believe Volunteers would understand the risks concerning the project hence develop the ability to make and effective and efficient decision on whether to participate in the research practice. An example would be participation in a research aiming to determine the reaction in human beings. The other example is the participation in placebo researches. Most participants or individuals lack enough information in relation to the nature of the research that entails adoption of placebo. I think this is harmful to the existence of volunteer since the drugs or the so-called sugar pills might prove to be dangerous for human consumption.
I hold the perspective that volunteers should have information in relation to the nature of the study that is about to take place. This would involve positive and negative aspect of the study in order to perform rational decision-making with reference to participation in the research. Volunteers should also know the reasons or objectives of the study in order to determine if the overall goals are appropriate with their autonomy or rights. Volunteers should also have information on the researchers to ensure that their participation is legal and ethical in accordance to the standards of research. Volunteers should not have access to personal or confidential information that relates to other participants. I consider this a protection to the researcher’s confidentiality if he or she keeps personal details from the volunteers. This is when providing accurate information on the nature and terms of the research practice.
I believe that Volunteers should not obtain payment upon signing of the consent form in order to participate in the research practice. This would offer different meaning to the term volunteers’, which should mean participation out of free will. Volunteerism is an act of free wills after critical evaluation of the situation by an individual hence the result of rational decision-making process. Volunteers should understand the nature of the research process and decide on whether to participate in the process rather than take money to be part of the project. This might prove to be harmful to their health and entire life. I consider the use of money to participate in a research project as a surprising element of informed consent. This is because in the event of payment, researchers or medical practitioners would have no right or obligation to advice participants on the nature of the study. The participation of the individuals would resemble interaction with objects that have money value. Most participants would take part in the research processes are human beings hence have the opportunity to know the nature of the project. This would enable them make the value judgment with minimal influence of money elements but rational evaluation of the scenario.
