Category: Legal and Ethical Assurance for Advocacy Partners

At DecenTrialz, we believe that advancing clinical research should never come at the cost of ethics, trust, or community well-being. That’s why we hold ourselves and our partners to the highest standards of transparency, fairness, and participant protection. To avoid any confusion or misalignment, we are just as clear about what we don’t do as we are about what we do.

Below are practices we explicitly avoid, to preserve the integrity of every partnership and uphold ethical recruitment standards.

We do not pay for referrals.

We never offer financial incentives, commissions, or bonuses to advocacy groups, staff, or volunteers in exchange for participant referrals. This ensures there is no undue influence or appearance of coercion, and maintains the voluntary nature of participation.

We do not pressure partners to meet quotas.

We do not set numerical targets or performance goals that could create pressure to push people into trials. Your role as an advocacy partner is to inform and support, not to recruit under obligation.

We do not share identifiable participant data without consent.

We never disclose names, contact information, or health details to any sponsor, CRO, or third party unless the participant has provided explicit, IRB-approved informed consent. All shared data is either de-identified or aggregated unless otherwise permitted by law and consent.

We do not bypass medical or caregiver input.

We respect the role of healthcare professionals and caregivers in the decision-making process. Our materials are designed to support, not replace, conversations between participants and their trusted health advisors.

We do not misrepresent clinical trials.

We never make exaggerated claims about the benefits, safety, or outcomes of any study. All information provided to communities must follow IRB-approved language and present a balanced view of potential risks and benefits.

Key Note: DecenTrialz is committed to non-coercive, education-first community engagement. All advocacy campaigns must align with IRB, HIPAA, and ethical research standards. Our mission is to empower individuals with accurate information, not influence their decisions.

If you ever feel unsure about a message, flyer, or conversation, reach out to us at support@decentrialz.com. We’re here to support you in staying compliant, culturally respectful, and participant-centered.

To protect both advocacy partners and participants, DecenTrialz establishes clear boundaries around data sharing, liability, and usage rights.

Key Protections Include

• You are not liable for participant outcomes or trial results, that responsibility rests with trial sponsors and research sites
• Any data shared with you is aggregated or anonymized
• Any aggregated or anonymized data shared with you is for internal analysis and reporting only. You may not reuse, resell, or distribute this data in any form.
• Participants must provide explicit, documented consent for any third-party referral or contact

If your organization already has its own compliance or legal policies, we are happy to review and align where possible.

Key Note: Our goal is to protect your community and your organization. If legal or ethical concerns arise, our compliance and legal teams are available to consult and clarify next steps.

Co-branding with DecenTrialz can increase community trust, but it must be done responsibly. To maintain consistency and clarity, we provide clear co-branding guidelines that align with compliance expectations.

Co-branding Guidelines Include

• Where and how your logo and tagline can appear on campaign pages and materials
• Approved language for introducing DecenTrialz to your community
• Disclaimers clarifying roles (e.g., “This is not a medical recommendation…”)
• Use of specific terms such as “pre-screening,” “explore trials,” and “participant rights”, which are compliant with IRB expectations

All campaign assets, whether flyers, social posts, or videos, go through a lightweight approval workflow to ensure they meet regulatory and brand integrity standards.

Key Note: Co-branded materials must be educational and never pressure individuals to join a trial. The goal is awareness, not persuasion.

DecenTrialz strictly adheres to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and IRB (Institutional Review Board) guidelines for all participant-facing activities. This ensures that any campaign you co-host or promote remains ethically sound and legally compliant.

What This Means for Your Group:

• You are never expected to collect or manage participant health data
• All pre-screening and personal data collection occurs only on DecenTrialz’s secure, HIPAA-compliant platform
• Campaign materials, if mentioning trial opportunities, are reviewed for IRB compliance to avoid misleading claims or undue influence
• Participant privacy is prioritized, from consent to data use

Key Note: Even when a campaign is co-branded, all data usage and messaging must meet the same ethical standards applied to clinical research institutions.