Emory Neuroscientist Examines Placebo Use by Physicians

Karen S. Rommelfanger 

Karen S. Rommelfanger, PhD, Assistant Director of the Neuroethics Program at the Center for Ethics, reports on the use and effects of placebos by physicians. She raises the ethical issue of whether or not physicians are harming patients by forgoing treatments like placebo therapy that might be beneficial. The excerpt below is from her recent Huffington article on the placebo effect. 

Take Two Placebo Pills and Call Me in the Morning

Jane has suffered from debilitating headaches for the past year. After a number of referrals, and no medical explanation for her headaches, she meets Dr. Smith, who prescribes her 100mg of Vitamin X. Dr. Smith tells her that, "This has helped others with your condition.
"Finally experiencing relief from her headaches, Jane says, "This is the best I've felt in years. Vitamin X is a miracle cure." When Dr. Smith is asked by his colleague about the prescription for Vitamin X and Jane's recovery, Dr. Smith says, "I don't know why it worked. Vitamin X doesn't cure headaches, but I thought she might get better if I just prescribed her something, and I didn't think it would hurt for her to have some extra Vitamin X in her diet."


read more......Huffington Post- Take Two Placebo Pills and Call Me in the Morning