So, if you are considering participating in a gene therapy study, be sure that you fit into the medical criteria of the study. Most importantly, you should fully understand the risks and the potential benefits before agreeing to participate. If the informed consent form does not do a good enough job of explaining everything you are agreeing to, ask questions. Gene therapy holds great hope, not only to help seriously ill patients enrolled in studies, but also in the long-term development of new and better medicines. Such research, however, ultimately will succeed only if public confidence in gene therapy is restored and retained.
Gene therapy is clearly at a crossroads.
Hopefully, better public understanding of the real issues will allow research to move ahead with public and patient support. All rights reserved. All rights reserved.