17. Ethical Questions: Is Harnessing Placebos Deceptive?
The use of placebos in medicine raises important ethical questions, especially concerning patient consent and the potential for deception. While open-label placebos—where patients are informed they are receiving an inert treatment—help address these concerns, debates about autonomy and transparency persist.
Balancing the benefits of belief-driven healing with respect for patient rights is a complex challenge. For a thoughtful discussion, see The BMJ’s analysis of placebo ethics.