Placebo

... "used for its nonspecific, psychological, or psycho-physiological effect or that it is used for its presumed specific effect, but is without specific activity for the condition being treated."

NOT JUST A SUGAR PILL!

EXAMPLES

• Sham surgery
• Saline injections
• Sugar pills
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• It can be anything

AUTONOMY

Untitled Slide

• Placebo treatments widely use deception
• Society wants honest healthcare and people desire autonomy
• Deception undermines autonomy
• Breaks the patient-physician relationship

beneficence and non-maleficence

• Minimal risk
• Low cost to produce
• Provides a positive effect with no harm to the patient

Utilitarianism

• It could be said that the placebo is for the greater good of the patient
• Provides care when no other treatments are available
• Utilitarianism undermines the views of the patient and disregards autonomy

My Conclusion

TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE USE OF THE PLACEBO ETHICAL, IN CLINICAL PRACTICE?

• Placebos can be ethical
• Only when evidence-based treatments are not available
• Placebos induce a significant effect which I believe should not be ignored

Any questions?