This study delves into the perspectives of surrogate decision-makers regarding enrollment into critical care clinical trials, particularly for critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation. Through semi-structured interviews with 20 surrogates, it reaffirms known motivators for trial enrollment such as trust in the healthcare system, weighing risks and benefits, altruism, and the pursuit of medical knowledge. Notably, it uncovers two previously unreported concerns: the potential for trial participation to disrupt clinical treatment and apprehensions about the use of placebos. Surrogates expressed a preference for non-financial incentives to encourage trial participation, favoring public recognition and charitable donations over direct financial rewards or prioritized medical attention. This study highlights the complexity of surrogate decision-making in critical care trials and suggests that understanding these nuances is crucial for designing effective strategies to enhance trial enrollment. It points to the need for further research on whether interventions like charitable contributions and public acknowledgment could effectively boost enrollment rates.