Additionally, researchers may, in some cases, need to provide subjects with a description of circumstances under which the researcher will terminate their participation or the overall study. If appropriate, the researcher should provide information regarding alternative procedures or treatments, if any, that might be advantageous to subjects. The researcher should provide information on whom the subjects could contact in the event of further questions, comments, or complaints relating to the research. The above information is normally presented to prospective subjects orally while they are being recruited to participate in a study. Researchers often present this information to prospective subjects in writing as well.
Oral presentations provide opportunities for greater elaboration and for subject questioning.
Because informed consent is based on a person's evaluation of the potential costs and benefits of participation, it is important that the critical information be not only communicated but understood. Researchers preparing statements for prospective subjects should be careful to use simple language, avoiding jargon and technical terms whenever possible. Written statements should be consistent with the subjects' reading levels and educational attainment. For studies involving more than minimal risk, researchers need to make special efforts to ensure that prospective subjects understand what participation in the research will involve. In some cases, this might involve testing the subjects for their comprehension of the informed consent material before ruling them eligible for participation.