Dr. Markman on Privacy and Consent in Clinical Cancer Trials and Beyond

Maurie Markman, MD, physician and president of Medicine and Science at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and editor-in-chief of OncologyLive, discusses how privacy and consent in clinical cancer trials have improved over the years.

There has been tremendous change in clinical trials with regard to patient rights, privacy, and autonomy over one's own body and tissues, Markman says. The absolute requirement for consent extends beyond research and into clinical practice, with the exception of emergency scenarios, Markman adds.

Baring lifesaving scenarios, patient consent has grown to become a critical aspect of clinical research, Markman concludes.