Dear Dr. Roach: Your recent column about the advancement of medical science relying on clinical trials, not testimonials, begs me to ask the following: How are the candidates for these research trials selected? What information is provided to them to consider before volunteering? Are the candidates aware that they may receive a placebo rather than the treatment being tested? Then, upon completion of the trial, are they notified of the results, and finally, are they told whether or not they were part of the control group?

The reason for my question is this: If I volunteered for a clinical trial addressing a condition that I suffered from, I wonder how I would respond if the trial proved that the new treatment was a tremendous success, and then learned that I was given a placebo and not pr

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