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• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Not taking part in a trial >> Hazel - Interview 05 >> It is vital that trials are well designed and build on existing knowledge, and that they focus on things which really matter to patients.

Hazel learnt she had breast cancer (DCIS) after screening in 1991. After surgery she was asked to be in a trial comparing no further treatment with radiotherapy, tamoxifen, or radiotherapy and tamoxifen combined. She declined to take part. (You can see Hazel talking more about her experiences on the Healthtalkonline site on Breast cancer screening, Interview 17 & DCIS, Interview 26).

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Organising trials >> Sir Richard Doll - Interview 31 >> Sir Richard Doll explains why it can be useful for trials to compare several things at once and why it is important to have enough participants to get

Sir Richard Doll was one of the doctors who first demonstrated the link between lung cancer and smoking. He was Warden of Green College, Oxford. He was interviewed shortly before his death, in 2005.

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Trials involving surgery >> Alex - Interview 45 >> TV programmes might raise awareness, but Alex thinks improving public understanding of medicine, science and maths is the first step. Clinical trials

Alex fractured his heel in 2007. He agreed to take part in a trial comparing surgery with letting the bones heal naturally. He was randomised to the group having surgery, and his heel is slowly recovering.

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Screening, prevention other medical interventions >> Caroline - Interview 08 >> Caroline sees it as the job of ethics committees to protect patient interests. Ideally you want patient involvement, but it’s a complicated field, eve

Caroline’s first baby was born by emergency caesarean. In her next pregnancy she took part in a trial comparing different types of information and decision aids about birth choices for women after a previous caesarean. She chose to attempt a natural birth.