Your Rights as a Research Participant

As a participant in research, you have the following rights:

• To know the purpose of the research.
• To understand and know about all of the procedures involved in the research, including how many procedures, how much time each procedure will take, the side effects of any medications or devices, and any alternative treatments or procedures that may be available to you.
• To understand all of the risks or discomforts you may experience as a participant in the research.
• To understand the benefits of participating in the research, either to yourself, to family members, to others with similar conditions or experiences, to community members or to others in the future.
• To understand how the researcher will protect your privacy and prevent any disclosure of information or data obtained about you or that can identify you.
• To know whether any compensation for your time, effort, transportation or parking will be available to you, and when and how it will be provided.
• To know whether compensation for any injury incurred as a result of the research is available, and where to seek treatment if such an injury occurs.
• To know whom to contact in case you experience any problems with any of the research procedures, drugs or devices.
• To know whom to contact to ask any questions about the research, either before you agree to participate, and at any time during the research.
• To know whom to contact with any questions about your rights as a research participant.
• To know whom to contact if you have any complaints about the research or research staff.
• You do not have to participate in a research study.
• If you choose not to participate in a research study, you should not lose any benefits or services you would otherwise receive.
• If you choose to participate in a research study, you may choose to withdraw from the study at any time. Please note that some studies may involve tests or data that cannot be withdrawn from a study, even though you withdraw from the study. Any such circumstances should be noted on the consent form.
• All of the above information (as appropriate to the study) should be provided to you in a document called an Informed Consent Form.
• The consent form should be presented in a manner best understood by you: you may have a consent form read to you, you may take a consent form home and think about whether you want to participate in the research, you may ask a family member or a friend to assist you and read over the form with you, and you may ask the researcher to translate the consent form into your primary language.
• You should only sign the consent form when you understand everything about the study and are comfortable enough with the information provided in order to consent to participate in the study.

For more information, please visit the following links:

• Becoming a Research Volunteer: It's your decision
• OHRP's Questions for Participants
• ClinicalTrials.gov

Through the Harvard Medical School Consumer Information website, there is more information about health and research from the Harvard medical faculty.

You may also contact the CHS office with any questions, concerns, complaints, or suggestions:
Phone: 617-432-3071
Email: orsp@hms.harvard.edu

Updated: 04-Sep-2007

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For questions or comments about this website, please email: orsp@hms.harvard.edu