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"We actually cut someone open, then don't fix him" Yes. There have been placebo-controlled trials whereby the control-group was just cut open, and left there f
by aminozuur 6y ago
"We actually cut someone open, then don't fix him"
Yes. There have been placebo-controlled trials whereby the control-group was just cut open, and left there for an hour. The placebo-patients believed they had undergone the actual procedure, and reported the same improvement as the actual patients. This is the placebo effect.
Although such trials are harder than giving fake pills, they might still be worthy of doing more often than we do now.
- rscho 6y agoSuch trials are highly unethical IMO. I suspect that this opinion will be shared by most. There is a huge and obvious difference compared to a drug placebo.
- I_AM_A_SMURF 6y agoAgreed. Although trials don't have to have a placebo control, e.g. drug trials for diseases that already have treatment available often use the in-use treatment as control, so what you're trying to prove is that the new drug is better than what we currently have.
- bonoboTP 6y agoDrug and vaccine trials also carry some risk, but are allowed by ethics committees. Placebo surgery trials would also benefit humanity a lot in better focused efforts, money and saving future patients from having to undergo useless surgery and take risks. Somehow you imply it's ethical to try and fix a patient with a potentially sham surgery and risk complications, but it's unethical to do it with placebo thereby gaining knowledge that can save lots of lives down the line. I guess it's a kind of trolley problem but have those been "solved"? Who decides if it's ethical or not? Why are they qualified to make such a decision?
- scotty79 6y agoIs it more unethical than performing a surgery that doesn't help?
- numpad0 6y agorats or monkeys maybe but human patients no thanks
- aminozuur 6y agoSince most rats and monkeys don't speak English, how will you quantify whether they feel better?