Medical Studies Can be Risky
By Caitlin Clinard

If you’re looking for a way to make money, some medical researchers are willing to pay at least $1,000 for study participants. But make sure you know what you’re getting into.

Clinical trial expert Richard Goldberg says medical studies are pretty safe. Before a drug is tested on humans, it’s tested on animals first.

“However, anytime somebody takes a drug or has a test done there’s always risk involved. I commonly tell patients that penicillin has even killed some people, but it’s certainly helped more people than it’s hurt,” Goldberg says.

Some students don’t think there’s much risk. UNC-CH senior Todd Kingdon bought an engagement ring with the money that he got from participating in six studies with AAI Pharma, a company that runs clinical trials to test new drugs.

“In the forms that we sign off on, they tell us that if there is anything that happens because of the drug, they will take care of it. Their insurance will cover everything,” Kingdon says.

UNC-CH junior Emily Mann says she thinks there might be more risk involved. She’s going to the doctor because she’s been sick twice since she participated in her most recent study with AAI Pharma.

“I’ve decided, if anybody asks me, I usually say that I’m not going to do it again, and I probably won’t do one again,” Mann says.

Recently, a drug study in Britain went terribly wrong. Six people were sent to intensive care within minutes of taking the experimental drug. Their vital organs started shutting down.

Dr. Goldberg says if you have any anxiety about participating in a clinical study, then perhaps it’s not for you.

And one last message from Dr. Goldberg: In the end your health is more important than money.