Physicians Prescribing Placebos

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Physicians Prescribing Placebos Ashley Brinkmeier Globe University Physicians Prescribing Placebos The issue of placebos being unethical or ethical has gone on since they were first invented in the 1930s. As funny as this may sound, placebos have actually been dated all the way back to ancient Egyptian times. Many physicians all over the world are currently giving their patients placebos without them actually knowing what they are. Physicians that are for placebos believe they help with mild anxiety, depression, chronic inflammatory problems, pain, and asthma (German doctors, 2011). Other physicians who argue that placebos are unethical do not disagree they can help, but believe the patient should know what they are receiving. This debate over placebos will continue until there are laws forbidding the use of placebos without the patients consent. This is specifically why all countries need to act on making these laws. Making laws that pertain to the use of placebos will not only stop unethical use but also increase trust in physician-patient relationships and provide more means of safety for the patients. One of the biggest issues with physicians prescribing placebos is they are doing so without even telling their patients what it is. Many physicians feel that placebos will not work if they explain to their patient what they are giving them. So when prescribing placebos they often tell their patients that they are prescribing them something that has been effective with other patients. And if they do decide to get the patients consent for use of the medication, the physicians are not even required to say its true name, “placebo”. The reason physicians feel that placebos work without the patient knowing is because when the patients take the medicine they believe they will get better, which causes a physiological change in the body. This theory was proven wrong
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