Final answer:
Patients considering participation in clinical trials must be given information on potential benefits, risks, discomforts, and costs. Informed consent is necessary to ensure participants understand all aspects of the trial, such as confidentiality and the right to withdraw without penalty. These considerations address ethical values and participants' rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
When determining whether to participate in research, investigation, or clinical trials, a hospital must provide patients with information on potential benefits, risks, discomforts, and costs. Informed consent is crucial for participants to understand all aspects of the trial, including the voluntary nature of participation, the fairness of subject selection, confidentiality measures, risks involved, and the importance of the studies for societal benefits. In the context of clinical trials, ethical considerations are paramount, relating to the Kantian value of not using humans merely as a means to an end, and the social contract theory that emphasizes natural rights and equality before the law.
Prior to participation, individuals must read and sign an informed consent form which outlines the experiment's process, potential risks, and guarantees the confidentiality of collected data. This process acknowledges the participants' rights to withdraw at any time without penalty and emphasizes the ethical consideration that all risks and benefits must be transparently communicated to ensure autonomous decision making.