Healthy Skepticism Library item: 5342

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Kleinman I, Brown P, Librach L.
Placebo pain medication. Ethical and practical considerations.
Arch Fam Med 1994 May 01; 3:(5):453-7

Abstract:

The placebo effect on pain is a complex phenomenon. The unconsented use of placebo pain medication, however, raises concerns given the risks both to patient trust and to the medical profession’s reputation in condoning deception, the inherent distastefulness of deception, the misuse of placebos that occurs, and the fact that the information obtained is often of negligible value. The main justification given for using placebos is based on the assumption that they are effective and beneficial to patients. We argue that placebo pain medication should be prescribed to patients only with their informed consent in scientifically rigorous single-patient studies. The results of such trials would constitute a particularly useful way of resolving uncertainty in the treatment of patients whose pain is poorly controlled.

Keywords:
Beneficence Disclosure Ethics, Medical* Female Humans Male Pain/drug therapy* Paternalism Personal Autonomy Physician-Patient Relations Placebo Effect Placebos* Risk Assessment* Therapeutic Human Experimentation* Trust