Brief reflection on the need for translation in clinical trials. What do readers need?

Based on her previous experience in clinical research and current experience as a writer and translator for a contract research organization, the author identifies several different readers of clinical trial protocols: Researchers, trial monitors, research staff, and members of ethics committees. In view of the lack of data on the general level of English proficiency among members of ethics committees, the author suggests that patients would be less well-protected if committee members could not review and reflect upon the contents of the entire protocol. She therefore recommends that the entire protocol should be translated.