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Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine Heersink School of Medicine

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Participant Rights and Responsibilities

Research Participant's Bill of Rights
If you are asked to participate in a research study, you have the right to:

  1. Be told what kind of study it is and why it is being done.
  2. Be given an explanation of the procedures to be used, as well as a description of any drug or device to be used.
  3. Be given a description of any discomforts and risks to be expected, as well as whether there will be any financial costs to you or your insurance company.
  4. Be given an explanation of benefits to be expected, if any.
  5. Be told of procedures, drugs, or devices that might help you if you do not participate in the study, as well as how the risks and benefits of such options compare with those of participating.
  6. Be told of any treatment or alternative treatment, if any, available to you during and after the study.
  7. Be given an opportunity to ask any questions about the study or the procedures involved.
  8. Be told of new findings that could change your willingness to consent and be informed that you may withdraw your consent to participate at any time, without penalty to you.
  9. Be given a copy of any consent form used in relation to the study.
  10. Be given the time and opportunity to decide freely whether to consent or not consent to participate in the study.
Informed Consent
For some studies, if you agree to participate, someone from the study will ask you for your “informed consent.” To give that consent, you may be asked to sign a form, but remember that informed consent is a process, not a form. If you have a question or concern about your participation at any time during the study, ask about it. You must be informed before you can give your consent, so asking questions is extremely important.

Adverse Events
For the research to be complete, you may be asked to tell the study staff about any unusual symptoms or problems with your health while you were on the study. The researchers will explain any potential adverse effects they expect to you during the informed consent process.

Your Rights and Responsibilities
The ultimate goal of research at the UAB Medical Center is to improve health care. However, to study possible improvements, our researchers need to compare different treatments, drugs or procedures to see how they work. Regardless of the nature of the study or the participant group you might be placed in, you have the same rights.

Your general rights are outlined above. The researchers may give you more information on these rights during the informed consent process. They will also explain your responsibilities while you are in the study.

Children in Research
You may be asked if you are willing to allow your child to participate in a research study. Special efforts are made to protect children who participate in research.

Most studies involve no more than minimal risk to children, or they offer some possibility of direct benefit. No undue risks are taken with children who participate in research.

As a parent, you plan an important role in this process. Make sure you understand the risks as well as any possible benefits of your child participating in the study.

Ask questions of anyone involved in the study and feel free to discuss the study with your child’s regular pediatrician as well. Children also have the right to an age-appropriate explanation of the research.

We want both you and your child to be comfortable. If you have questions, please ask!

You will be given a person’s name and telephone contact for the study. If not, ask anyone working on the study. Wondering about benefits and risks of the study? Ask. Wondering whether you’ll be paid? Ask.

Contact information for Rights of Research Participants
For more information about the rights of research participants, please contact the UAB Institutional Review Board at 934-3789 or 800-822-8816.

You can also use the web to learn about research with humans at any of these sites:

Office for Human Research Protections
Toll-Free Telephone within the U.S. (866) 447-4777 
Telephone: (240) 453-6900 
Fax: (240) 453-6909 
e-mail: ohrp@osophs.dhhs.gov

National Center for Bioethics
Tuskegee University 
Tuskegee, Alabama 36088 
Telephone: (334) 727-8011