Informed Consent Form — Clinical Trial

Informed Consent Form — Clinical Trial

Produces a plain-language ICF (≤ 8th-grade reading level) covering all 21 CFR 50.25 required elements, HIPAA authorization, and ethics-compliant framing for research subjects.

Prerequisites

Collect before drafting:

1. Protocol details — title, protocol number, phase, sponsor, IND number
2. Investigational product — name, mechanism, dosing, route, known risk profile
3. Study design — randomization, arms (incl. placebo), visit schedule, duration
4. Site info — PI name/title, institution, IRB name and contact
5. Risk/benefit data — preclinical and prior clinical risk frequencies/severities
6. Injury/compensation policy — sponsor coverage for research-related injury; participation payments

Output Structure

1. Header Block

On every page: protocol title, protocol number, version/date, page X of Y.

2. Study Information

Purpose

• Plain-language disease/condition description
• What the study tests; trial phase; subject count (site and total)
• Include: "This is a research study, not standard medical treatment."

Procedures (chronological)

• Screening, randomization (arm probabilities incl. placebo), visit-by-visit table:

• Flag research-only vs. standard-of-care procedures
• Note preparation requirements (fasting, hold meds)

Risks and Discomforts

Organize by category with frequency and severity:

• Include unknown-risks disclosure and new-information notification statement
• State injury care/compensation available and what is not covered

Potential Benefits

• Direct benefit: state honestly if possible, probable, or not expected; cite prior data; note not guaranteed
• Societal benefit: knowledge advancement
• Payments/free medication: list but clarify these are not medical benefits
• Include: "Not participating will not affect your access to standard medical care."

3. Subject Rights

Confidentiality

• Coded identifiers, encrypted storage, limited access
• Authorized accessors: research team, IRB, FDA, sponsor/monitors, DSMB
• Mandatory disclosure circumstances (reporting obligations, court order)
• Publication: no individual identification; data retention period stated
• HIPAA Authorization (if applicable): PHI use/disclosure scope; required for participation

Voluntary Participation and Withdrawal

• Voluntary; refusal/withdrawal does not affect care or benefits
• Withdraw any time without penalty; contact PI at listed number
• Pre-withdrawal data may be retained; investigator/sponsor may remove subject for safety, non-compliance, or study termination
• New findings affecting willingness will be communicated

Contacts

4. Consent Statement

First-person acknowledgment covering: form read/explained, questions answered, voluntary participation, right to withdraw, agreement to participate in [Study Title], Protocol [Number].

Optional check-box consents (if applicable):

• Future biospecimen research use
• Genetic testing
• Long-term follow-up contact
• HIPAA authorization

5. Signature Block (per 21 CFR 50.27)

• Subject receives signed, dated copy
• Add re-consent rows if protocol requires re-consent at defined intervals

Drafting Rules

• Reading level: ≤ 8th grade; define technical terms on first use
• No exculpatory language: No waiver of legal rights or liability release (21 CFR 50.25(a)(8))
• Therapeutic misconception: Distinguish research from treatment; do not overstate direct benefit
• Placebo disclosure: Explain probability and risk of forgoing active therapy
• Vulnerable populations: Add protections per 21 CFR 50 Subparts C, D (pregnant women, children, prisoners, cognitively impaired)
• Formatting: ≥ 12pt font, section headings, page numbers, version/date footer; typical 8–15 pages

Checklist Before Finalizing

• [ ] All 21 CFR 50.25(a) basic elements present
• [ ] All applicable 50.25(b) additional elements included
• [ ] No exculpatory language
• [ ] HIPAA authorization section included (if applicable)
• [ ] Vulnerable-population protections added (if applicable)
• [ ] Reading level verified ≤ 8th grade
• [ ] IRB approval required before use; retain IRB-stamped version as operative document
• [ ] [VERIFY]: Confirm ICH E6(R3) GCP requirements align with jurisdiction's adoption status