Don,
I know what you mean about signing the papers without reading them. Any request to participate in a clinical trial should be a separate discussion with your team, with plenty of time to ask questions. Copies of the consent form will be given to you. If you decide to join, the copy should be signed by you and the people involved in the trial. If you feel rushed into making a decision about participation in a study, wait until you can make an informed choice.
Linda

Hx of stage IV non-oral cancer tx with radiation, chemo & surgery in 2005. Currently a research nurse with National Institutes of Health working on a clinical trial using gene therapy for radiation-induced xerostomia. mccullaghl@nidcr.nih.gov