How to Help Patients Undergoing Experimental Treatments

Medical experimentation includes the use of stem cell, cancer and virotherapy treatments, to name a few. These treatments are suggested by doctors, scientists and medical researchers who are frustrated with standard drugs and procedures that do not work. Patients are frustrated, too, and are willing to take major risks to get the results they want. Here are a few tips to help patients as they seek experimental treatments.

Collect As Much Research as Possible

Every year, new revolutionary studies about little known treatments are released. So as long as the patient undergoes treatment, the collecting of medical research will continue indefinitely. If you truly want to help experimental patients, keep them informed about the latest developments in research.

A wide range of research services is provided by a full service clinical research organization and outsourced to various medical companies. Medical device companies need this information to determine which products are safe for patient use. Pharmaceutical companies need medical studies to analyze the effects of their drugs or chemicals on certain patients.

List the Pros and Cons

Provide a complete list of the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment. Every medical treatment is a trade-off between good and bad results. For instance, there are health advantages to being treated with stem cells, including miraculous cures, but one common disadvantage is a lack of funding for research and treatment. This is a common problem for all experimental treatments that exist.

Be Optimistic yet Honest

Some experiments work, while others fail. A person who is undergoing treatment doesn’t want to hear that the treatment is not working or will never work. This should only be stated if it’s a fact supported by new, emerging evidence. Otherwise, always reassure the patient that the outcome will be favorable.

On the other hand, be honest and avoid lying about an outcome that will not happen. You want to stay positive about a patient’s condition, but you don’t want to plant false ideas.

Mention Case Studies

Mention relevant case studies that talk about the plight of regular people who have gone through the same predicament. Patients feel better knowing that there are other people who have overcome the same problems. For each new treatment, there are at least one or two case studies that can be found online or in printed medical journals.

Most experimental medical treatments are far from being lobotomies that are extremely unsafe and unknown. As medical technology becomes more advanced, more studies and research are being conducted on tens of thousands of different types of diseases. The results of these studies are experimental treatments that are helping millions of sick patients. It’s important to help them undergo treatments that may work in their favor and let them know what the options are.