Therapeutic misconception in clinical research: frequency and risk factors

Paul S. Appelbaum, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Charles W. Lidz, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Thomas Grisso, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Abstract

The article addresses the frequency and risk factors of therapeutic misconceptions in clinical research. When clinical researchers fail to recognize the ways in which research participation may involve the sacrifice of some degree of personal cares they are said to manifest a therapeutic misconception. Growing concern about the validity of consent obtained from many research subjects has led experts to suggest that therapeutic misconception may constitute a major hurdle to logical decision making. The article further attempts to identify the focus for intervention to improve the quality of consent to research.