Is it always unethical to use a placebo in a clinical trial?
oleh: Andreas Stang, Hans-Werner Hense, Karl-Heinz Jöckel, Erick H Turner, Martin R Tramèr
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2005-03-01 |
Deskripsi
BACKGROUND TO THE DEBATE: Placebos are used in trials to conceal whether a treatment is being given or not and hence to control for the psychosomatic effects of offering treatment. Placebo-controlled trials are controversial. Critics of such trials argue that if a proven effective therapy exists, a placebo should not be used. But proponents argue that placebo trials are still crucial to prove the efficacy and safety of many treatments.