Informed consent

Informed consent is the process of providing you with key information about a research study before you decide whether to accept the offer to take part. To help you decide whether to take part, members of the research team explain the details of the study.

The research team provides an informed consent document that includes details about the study, such as its purpose, how long it’s expected to last, tests or procedures that will be done as part of the research, and who to contact for further information. The informed consent document also explains risks and potential benefits.

You can then decide whether to sign the document. Taking part in a research study is voluntary and you can leave the study at any time.