Explore the ethical controversy surrounding placebo treatments. 

Explore the ethical controversy surrounding placebo treatments.

In this discussion, we will explore the ethical controversy surrounding placebo treatments.

Placebo treatments—even placebo surgery—are considered ethically acceptable according to current medical and psychological ethical standards.

However, some researchers (and many members of the general public) find this practice unacceptable. One group at Harvard University, led by Dr. Ted Kaptchuk, is at the forefront investigating placebo treatments as ethical treatment alternatives (http://www.programinplacebostudies.org).

Likewise, informing patients of side effects of actual prescription drugs may make them more likely to experience those side effects (http://blogs.plos.org/neurotribes/2012/07/16/are-warnings-about-the-side-effects-of-drugs-making-us-sick/).

Reflecting on the information about placebo treatment, when is a placebo treatment considered an ethical treatment? What about the ethics of making people aware of possible side effects of medications? Share your thoughts on these issues.