Should doctors ever prescribe placebos?

Con: The use of placebos is essentially deceitful, and deceit has no place in the relationship between doctor and patient. Deception can undermine the trust that normally exists between patients and healthcare professionals. Patients who discover that their doctors have ordered placebos in the course of medical treatment may feel betrayed and resentful; they may sue their doctors for malpractice.

Pro: In some cases placebos are clearly effective; they can produce favorable psychological effects in certain patients. They can reduce pain and improve a patient's evaluation of his or her own condition.

Con: The use of an impure placebo, which is "a pharmacologically active agent prescribed for a condition in which it has not been proved effective" may have adverse effects for the patient.