Quote:
Originally Posted by johnt
Placebo effects have ethical consequences for this forum.
The larger the placebo effects are the more careful we need to be when posting information that conflicts with the belief that other people have in the efficacy of their actions.
Taking a wide definition of the words, even a post reporting some research can, itself (i.e. the act of communication), be considered either a placebo or a nocebo. By extension, I would argue, the forum itself acts partly as a placebo.
I'm certainly not suggesting that people only post good news. Not least because the placebo effect is enhanced by credibility, which would be reduced if we followed such a road.
Where do we draw the line?
John
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That's a good point John, but if the trial investigators have not leveled with them about the intensity of the placebo effect in the informed consent or if patients haven't educated themselves, who knows what would happen? That's why we are so against the way they do trials, especially sham surgery. And why we educate about the possibilities. it's deceit.
But we could be influencing their results, altho I' m not sure in which direction.