Prisoners' views on who should decide medical care if they cannot
Official title: Survey to Determine Incarcerated Persons Views on Surrogate Decision-Making
Run by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) · NCT07751731 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This survey asks people in prison who they would want to make medical decisions for them if they become unable to decide for themselves.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 120 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 75000 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) NIH |
| Locations | 1 site (Bethesda, Maryland) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 15, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 29, 2026 |
| Study ends | February 28, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | November 10, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07751731 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are currently incarcerated in US facilities with Edovo access, who can read and write in English and consent to participate.
✕Probably not a fit
Participants who do not identify with a surrogate role or who do not view surrogates as appropriate may not benefit directly.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study tests a 26-question survey embedded in the Edovo Learn platform to gauge incarcerated individuals' preferences for surrogate decision-makers and their openness to using a patient preference predictor. Participants must be currently incarcerated in the US with access to Edovo, able to read and write in English, and consent to participate. The study aims to inform policies by comparing different surrogate options and identifying candidate practices that could best support this population across states.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help shape policies and tools for surrogate decision-making in prisons, potentially improving medical decision support for incarcerated individuals in the future.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work on surrogate decision-making in incarcerated populations is limited, making this largely novel and exploratory.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Currently incarcerated in a United States facility with Edovo educational tablets 2. Ability to understand the consent form and survey 3. Willingness to give informed consent EXCLUSION CRITERIA: An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: 1\. Inability to read or write in English
Where it's running
-
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: David Wendler, Ph.D. — National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
- Study coordinator: David Wendler, Ph.D.
- Email: dwendler@mail.cc.nih.gov
- Phone: (301) 496-2429
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
VLCPUFA-rich fish oil and standard DHA oil: who reaches a higher omega-3 index?
This study tests whether VLCPUFA-rich fish oil raises the blood omega-3 index more than a standard DHA-rich fish oil in healthy adults aged 18–60.
-
Blood biomarkers for immune-related neuropsychiatric conditions
This study tests whether blood biomarkers can help identify neuropsychiatric disorders that may be linked to the immune system in people of any age.
-
First-in-human imaging of PDE4D with [11C]JMJ-129-d2 in healthy volunteers
A new PET tracer called [11C]JMJ-129-d2 is being tested in healthy adults to see if it safely and reliably images the brain’s PDE4D enzyme and to measure how the tracer distributes in the body.
-
Pain patterns in rheumatic diseases: see if pain works differently in patients and healthy people
This observational study tests how pain is experienced and measured in people with rheumatic diseases compared with healthy volunteers.
-
Augmenting Parent Management Training with a Smartphone Tool
This study tests whether adding a smartphone app to parent management training helps reduce irritability and temper outbursts in kids aged 8–13 with disruptive behavior disorders.
-
How healthy adults look at faces and other images with their eyes
This study tests how healthy adults direct their gaze and pay attention to visual images, including faces, to see how basic visual features influence eye movements.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.