PROs and CONs of Experimental medicine

(Medical Treatment)

If you could choose the most cutting-edge medical cure, would you want

to?
When the reality of a serious illness hits, most patients and their loved
ones want the best possible treatment available. For many, this means
getting the most proven and safe intervention possible. But the definition
of ‘the best’ and ‘the most up to date’ differs for different individuals.

Medical research is moving at a fast pace. Medical scientists are

discovering new ways to treat illnesses that may take years to validate
and to deem safe enough for the public. The process of developing a new
medical treatment often requires methodical experimental trials. When
an innovative therapy is ready for real live patients, volunteers are often
recruited to help assess whether the treatment is safe and effective
through clinical trials.
Approval and oversight of clinical trials are quite stringent — requiring
detailed applications and approvals at multiple levels. Researchers must
be experienced and qualified in order to obtain authorization to
implement clinical trials. Generally, a hospital or university or
pharmaceutical manufacturer requires preliminary data on safety,
sometimes obtained through animal testing, before allowing a human
study. Usually, a federal organization, such as the Federal Food and Drug
Administration provides structured oversight and criteria.
Pros
• Some trials provide reimbursement to patients for medical costs or
even cash compensation.
• Volunteers have the opportunity to try new therapeutic options.
• Volunteers do not have to miss out on new treatments just because
they haven't been approved 'yet.'
• Some volunteers have no other medical option besides experimental
treatment when faced with a bad prognosis.
• Volunteers can usually end participation at any time if they do not
like the intervention.
• The experiment might require more medical visits and monitoring,
and thus possibly more personal attention and better health care as
a 'built-in' benefit.
• Some volunteers appreciate the opportunity to play an active role
in scientific progress.
Cons
• The benefits of many experimental treatments are not well
established.
• There are many unknowns.
• Volunteers and their health care providers might not know if they are
in the treatment group or the no-treatment group.
• Volunteers may experience a placebo effect. A placebo effect occurs
when someone has symptoms (they might be good or bad) because of
expectations related to treatment or lack of treatment.
• The experiment might require more medical visits and monitoring,
which can be time-consuming.