Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie
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Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr · May 1990
Review[Ethical and legal aspects of the use of placebos in research and practice].
The discussion of ethical and legal problems concerning placebo application is suggested as an essential constituent of modern placebo research. Implications of distinctions between inadvertent and intended placebo applications and between single case and sample applications of placebos are examined. ⋯ In the following ethical and legal aspects of placebo application in practice (with clinical patients) and in research (sample tests) are elaborated. Finally actual issues of law concerning placebo applications in the Federal Republic of Germany are discussed.