Assessment of medical school institutional review board policies regarding compensation of subjects for research-related injury
So your doctor refers you for a clinical study on a pharmaceutical drug (can you say “guinea pig??”). Great, make sure you ask him if he’s getting paid–many get anywhere from $1K to $12K for finding eligible patients. Next, read the fine print.
If you’re injured by the study, you most likely will be stuck with your own medical bills!! In school sponsored research, if a pharmaceutical company is backing the study, 61% of the studies will pay for injury. If there is no drug company sponsor–the number drops to a paltry 22%. I think even the guinea pigs end up with free veterinary care…
