The Ethical Debate Over Placebos In healthcare, there is a fine line between what is ethical and what is not. As time goes by this line becomes thinner and thinner. In the article The Moral Case For The Clinical Placebo, Azgad Gold and Pesach Lichtenberg are two researchers who argue that there are exceptions to this fine line when it comes to placebos. They specifically argue: “The intentional use of placebos, in certain circumstances and under different conditions, may be justified.”1 Placebos are quickly becoming a problem because they are now a commonly prescribed drug and many people have different ethical opinions regarding the topic. Gold and Lichtenberg believe that placebos are effective and should be used in certain cases and under specific circumstances. They state that placebo may be more effective in a clinical setting than in a research setting.1 It has also been shown that if a patient is familiar with the placebo they are less likely to show improvement in their health. This is why full disclosure is not always possible. This also means that the patient must form some kind of trust in the doctor and believe that the doctor is there to help him get better. The trust between the patient and the doctor is what makes the placebo effect possible. Both of these researchers believe that the use of placebo is ethically acceptable because in most cases it can be morally justified; meaning that placebos can be used because, in the end, it is for the benefit of the patient and not the doctor. Many dispute Gold and Lichtenberg's beliefs. Others believe that giving a patient a placebo is denying them a “real” treatment and that doing so is “unethical, if not illegal.”1 Many people also believe that… middle of paper… ebo may be morally justified in many circumstances. There is now a rough guideline for doctors to follow to help balance all the conflicts that arise when discussing placebo. The placebo prescription must ultimately help improve the patient's health, otherwise the patient should not take it. Furthermore, the placebo cannot be falsely presented to the patient. In certain circumstances, full disclosure is not necessary. Paternalism is also permitted under certain conditions. Both Gold and Lichtenberg argue with research evidence and reasons why the placebo is morally justified in certain situations. NOTES 1.) Gold A. and Lichtenberg P. The Moral Case for the Clinical Placebo, 219-224. BIBLIOGRAPHY Azgad Gold and Pesach Lichenberg, “The Moral Case for the Clinical Placebo,” J Med Ethics 40 (2014): 219-224.