Prescribing a placebo - any rules?

[TroutMan]

Are there any official guidelines regarding a doctor prescribing a placebo? I’m not looking for opinions on if it’s ethical. I’m wondering if some groups like the AMA or state pharmacy boards have an official policy.

[I’m not a doctor or thinking of doing this; just curious.]

[Bijou_Drains]

I guess one rule is don’t write “placebo” on the Rx.

[DaveBfd]

I think their only rule is to “not” prescribe a placebo in the first place.

Studies now arent even really allowed to prescribe a placebo. They can only use placebos if there is no other drug available to treat whatever they are testing against (even if the drug is only partially effective they cant provide a placebo as the control).

[Pray_for_peace]

Per the AMA Code of Medical Ethics, deceptive use of placebos is not permitted; nondeceptive use of placebos is permitted in some circumstances. cite and cite.

Physicians may use placebos for diagnosis or treatment only if the patient is informed of and agrees to its use. A placebo may still be effective if the patient knows it will be used but cannot identify it and does not know the precise timing of its use. A physician should enlist the patient’s cooperation by explaining that a better understanding of the medical condition could be achieved by evaluating the effects of different medications, including the placebo. The physician need neither identify the placebo nor seek specific consent before its administration. In this way, the physician respects the patient’s autonomy and fosters a trusting relationship, while the patient still may benefit from the placebo effect.

[TroutMan]

@Sidney Evgeni Jordan

Per the AMA Code of Medical Ethics, deceptive use of placebos is not permitted; nondeceptive use of placebos is permitted in some circumstances. cite and cite.

Perfect, just what I was looking for. Thank you. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible to have nondeceptive use of a placebo, but this makes sense.