Question

What are thoughts about the ethics of using informed consent vs. blinding the subjects to the expected outcomes of the intervention. Should they be told? How much should they be told? How would the placebo effect be impacted if subjects are told which intervention is being applied to them?

I'm in healthcare administration and would like to know how it affect some patients. Thank you !

Answer 1

In medical ethics, patient autonomy ranks pretty highly as a necessity, and as an extension of this is the fact that they must consent to treatment, and be informed of the risks and benefits of such treatment before being asked to consent to them.

The patients must be informed about the treatment but before this, we should confirm some conditions such as the mental condition of the patient. Some patient use information to create mindset while others can take it on the negative way. Information regarding treatment should be according to the mental condition of the patient. We must ensure that in what way patient is analyzing the information given by medical practitioner.

The placebo effect is an important thing to be considered during treatment because the information given to the patient can effects in both negative and positive ways so that we need to ensure about the mental and emotional condition of the patient before providing medical information. Information must be appropriate and help the patient to be prepared before treatment, it also helps the patients to handle anxiety and stress. if the mental and emotional condition of the patient is not normal, the medical officer must provide general information rather than risks and failures.   

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