Philosophy
A new study finds that about half of American doctors prescribe placebos for their patients. In order for the placebo effect to work, the patient must believe that the prescribed treatment is generally effective, something the doctor knows to be false. Hence the doctor is misleading the patient, albeit for the patient's own good. This is a clear insult to patient autonomy; the doctor is not being a partner in health with the patient when seeing if the placebo effect -- a very real phenomenon which does lead to the patient's own body curing the ailment -- will work in the case, rather the doctor is putting him/herself in a paternalistic position.
The doctor is lying to the patient for the patient's own good, yet for the doctor/patient relationship to be successful surely requires a significant degree of trust, trust undermined by this approach. Placebos in research are one thing where the participant not only knows of the possibility, but knows that it is a necessary structural element. With one's own personal physician, though, one does have the expectation of both honesty and good faith attempts to improve your health. Is there something wrong with placebos in this case? Is it morally permissible for a doctor to put health promotion above honesty in a patient/doctor relationship? If the placebo doesn't work, would the patient be right in being angry or should s/he be glad that his/her doctor was pursuing every avenue of treatment?
- Doctor, It Hurts When I Do This
My Fellow Comedists, With all the discussion about healthcare, it seems a good time for some medicine jokes. Here's something from a bit I'm working on:I've always thought that 'pap smear' was the worst name out there for a medical...
- Odd
So, in the attempt to derail health care reform, GOP chairman Michale Steele had this to say, "You're journalists. You scrutinize this stuff. You mean you're sitting here and telling me that this is not unprecedented? That even you aren't...
- Physician, Heal Myself
This week's Comedist meditation is on doctors. I've been to see physicians several times this week having been diagnosed with Lyme disease. I had all the usual symptoms, fever, chills, a bull's eye rash, and an uncontrollable urge to bathe...
- Ben Goldacre - The Placebo And Nocebo Effects
You're probably familiar with the concept of the placebo effect: you pretend to provide some sort of treatment to a patient (sugar pill, saline shot, shaman chicken dance, homeopathic elixir, etc.), and because there is no actual medicine or treatment,...
- Salt And Prozac...the Debate Continues
Statistics can be misinterpreted. "What Salt and Prozac Have in Common" by Maia Szalavitz July 15th, 2011 Time Recently, two medical controversies have made headlines: the question of whether too much salt is bad for your health and the debate over...
Philosophy
Placebos and Autonomy
A new study finds that about half of American doctors prescribe placebos for their patients. In order for the placebo effect to work, the patient must believe that the prescribed treatment is generally effective, something the doctor knows to be false. Hence the doctor is misleading the patient, albeit for the patient's own good. This is a clear insult to patient autonomy; the doctor is not being a partner in health with the patient when seeing if the placebo effect -- a very real phenomenon which does lead to the patient's own body curing the ailment -- will work in the case, rather the doctor is putting him/herself in a paternalistic position.
The doctor is lying to the patient for the patient's own good, yet for the doctor/patient relationship to be successful surely requires a significant degree of trust, trust undermined by this approach. Placebos in research are one thing where the participant not only knows of the possibility, but knows that it is a necessary structural element. With one's own personal physician, though, one does have the expectation of both honesty and good faith attempts to improve your health. Is there something wrong with placebos in this case? Is it morally permissible for a doctor to put health promotion above honesty in a patient/doctor relationship? If the placebo doesn't work, would the patient be right in being angry or should s/he be glad that his/her doctor was pursuing every avenue of treatment?
- Doctor, It Hurts When I Do This
My Fellow Comedists, With all the discussion about healthcare, it seems a good time for some medicine jokes. Here's something from a bit I'm working on:I've always thought that 'pap smear' was the worst name out there for a medical...
- Odd
So, in the attempt to derail health care reform, GOP chairman Michale Steele had this to say, "You're journalists. You scrutinize this stuff. You mean you're sitting here and telling me that this is not unprecedented? That even you aren't...
- Physician, Heal Myself
This week's Comedist meditation is on doctors. I've been to see physicians several times this week having been diagnosed with Lyme disease. I had all the usual symptoms, fever, chills, a bull's eye rash, and an uncontrollable urge to bathe...
- Ben Goldacre - The Placebo And Nocebo Effects
You're probably familiar with the concept of the placebo effect: you pretend to provide some sort of treatment to a patient (sugar pill, saline shot, shaman chicken dance, homeopathic elixir, etc.), and because there is no actual medicine or treatment,...
- Salt And Prozac...the Debate Continues
Statistics can be misinterpreted. "What Salt and Prozac Have in Common" by Maia Szalavitz July 15th, 2011 Time Recently, two medical controversies have made headlines: the question of whether too much salt is bad for your health and the debate over...