Post by Pouncepaw on Jul 31, 2012 13:43:00 GMT -6
My debate is about the Placebo effect in medicine.
I will not pretend to be an expert on this subject because I really do not know much about it, However, I know enough to question it.
Now the placebo effect in medicine is when a doctor gives 'medicine' not a group of people, some have the real medicine while others merely have sugar pills. This can take place with many illnesses and the medicine can vary. There are Pills or IV's and stuff like that, but really what's the point?
It is said that the Placebo effect is very useful because it can trick the patients mind into believing it is being cured and they can heal themselves. But really, what if the experimental treatment is actually helping the person, what if they need that medicine and you are giving them water? And even if the medicine in question will not change anything, then wont the patient in question be able to tell if they are on the medicine or not based on how their body feels. I know that to be subjected to this type of treatment a patient must sign consent forms saying that they are okay with being experimented on but then what if no matter what the medicine doesn't work because the patient believes that it is just sugar pills and that nothing is changing. What if, by placing them in this situation, you are setting up their mind frame to stay 'mentally' sick no matter how healthy they are?
What say you?
I will not pretend to be an expert on this subject because I really do not know much about it, However, I know enough to question it.
Now the placebo effect in medicine is when a doctor gives 'medicine' not a group of people, some have the real medicine while others merely have sugar pills. This can take place with many illnesses and the medicine can vary. There are Pills or IV's and stuff like that, but really what's the point?
It is said that the Placebo effect is very useful because it can trick the patients mind into believing it is being cured and they can heal themselves. But really, what if the experimental treatment is actually helping the person, what if they need that medicine and you are giving them water? And even if the medicine in question will not change anything, then wont the patient in question be able to tell if they are on the medicine or not based on how their body feels. I know that to be subjected to this type of treatment a patient must sign consent forms saying that they are okay with being experimented on but then what if no matter what the medicine doesn't work because the patient believes that it is just sugar pills and that nothing is changing. What if, by placing them in this situation, you are setting up their mind frame to stay 'mentally' sick no matter how healthy they are?
What say you?
