Human guinea pigs!

[platts]

Does anyone know if you can put yourself forward as a human guinea pig? I don't mean to do drug trials etc, but rather if you are already ill can you go to a university hospital and hand yourself over to the students as a 'project'?

[GucciGal]

Yes I have known people who have been ill and are used for medical examination rather than drug trials. I would give my local hospital a call and see what the score is.  

[judypark]

I work in a University Hospital, the only trials I have come across involve the training and examining  of student doctors. Suitable patients are selected by consultants and asked if they would be willing to take part. These are always out patients, travelling expenses are paid and lunch is provided, the patients are interviewed by the student for 10 minutes only and the student then has to make a diagnosis from a brief examination and questioning the patient, obviously the patient already knows their diagnosis, but is not allowed to tell the student, only answer his questions. The student then goes on to the next patient. Usually there are about 20 students and 20 patients. This is part of the final examinations. The conditions' of the patients are usually chronic, ie. MS, ME ,chronic cardiac failure, IBS. Nurses also have to do case studies as part of their training but their focus is on care rather than diagnosis. Hope this answers your question. Judy