Ethics and the placebo effect

Recent studies indicating that there need not be 'deception' in the administering of placebos[1] has re-invigorated ethical debate over the use of placebo treatments. If deception is taken out of the equation medical practitioners are free to administer placebo treatments.

A resounding 97% of 783 UK GPs who took part in a 2012 study admitted administering to patients some sort of placebo in their practice[2]. (It is misleading to say doctors were giving pure placebo treatments – in the main doctors were administering impure placebo, i.e. an antibiotic treatment to treat a virus or laboratory tests or physical examinations given to reassure patients). In ethical terms, the study found that 66% of the doctors felt that the use of pure placebos are acceptable under certain circumstances, although the majority felt that they were unacceptable when administered using deception. The other 34% of doctors felt pure placebos were always unacceptable. Of the impure variety, however, there was much more acceptance, with 84% of doctors believing that they were OK in some circumstances.


Studies that are being undertaken on how pure placebos work indicate that the 'bedside manner' or a caring approach has a major part to play in a patient's reception to any treatment. The administering of a physical placebo treatments (pills, injections, medical procedures etc.) with the patient in the right frame of mind (positive expectation) encourages changes in brain activity and hence positive results in the treatment's effectiveness.


There aren't any ethical issues if you consume a placebo yourself knowing exactly what you are taking. Whilst you might think the 'placebo effect' would be diminished or removed altogether there is research says otherwise. Placebos can be seen to work for some people some of the time. Everyone is different, each individual responding to stimuli in their own unique way. The following placebo treatments are guides only but one thing is for sure - the key ingredient to any procedure is to feel positive about the aims of the regime.

  • Stress and placebo

    Feeling stressed can make life very uncomfortable. If you can, identify exactly what the cause of the stress is and allocate yourself some quality 'me' time and try to work on other recognised stress busting remedies that work for you: exercise, positive thinking, talking to other people (halving your problem), set yourself personal goals, avoid unhealthy habits, accept the things you can't change. Taking a placebo pill at the point / place of maximum stress and thinking positively can help you relax and help your stress to lift.

  • Anxiety and placebo

    When you feel the tell tale signs of anxiety creeping up on you - take a single placebo pill and combine with other recognised ways of dealing with your fears that work for you: analyse what is the worst that can happen to you, expose yourself to your fears, welcome the worst, get real, don't expect perfection, visualise a secure and comforting place, talking to other people (halving your problem), go back to basics - good healthy meal and sleep, a small reward for yourself.

  • Panic attacks and placebo

    Recognised self help methods for panic relief include learning relaxation techniques, eating regular meals, exercising and avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking. These are fine but for some, developing a coping strategy that helps to relieve the panic might need some form of ritual - yoga, meditation or prayer. Using a placebo pill as part of a ritual can become part of a coping regime that can be undertaken quickly and easily in a public place. When the symptoms of a panic attack manifest themselves try taking a placebo pill and concentrate on a past positive experience. Panic Attack relief using the power of the placebo effect

BBC Radio 4 'Today' interview with Professor Clare Gerada and Dr Margaret McCartney discuss the study: Placebo Use in the United Kingdom: Results from a National Survey of Primary Care Practitioners. [5 mins 34 sec]

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[1] Placebo pill given without deception works well with IBS sufferers 
Scientific journal PLoS ONE


[2] Placebo use in the United Kingdom
Scientific journal PLoS ONE