Deception!!!!

1. Just one more year and I'm a nurse. That's great always wanted to be a nurse! But..... I got a problem now! I just feel it is not ethical to give placebo to patients or to send someone back home cause you don't find his problem and decide he's faking!
   I'm not at ease to do my clinicals in that atmosphere and I would never be able to work in these conditions! Am I just giving too much attetion to my patients or....? my supervisor told me not to give too much energy talking to the docs or discuss about the pathology. I'm confused! today they sent back home a 25 y/o girl (the story's on surprise surprised on general board) It just make me sick to think about that!
   Need your advices!
   :imbar
   Ann

   Last edit by nursy_ann on Mar 8, '02

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2. 4 Comments

   Topic Closed
3. 
   Mar 8, '02

   Ann, I'm really sorry your having such a time. Are placebos a common occurance all over Canada or only in your area. (If only in your area, do you have the option of moving) I don't think they are used much here, at least to my knowledge, except in blind studies.
   
   Good luck
4. 
   Mar 8, '02

   I never hear about placebo used on patients before to do my clinicals in that hospital. The other nurses doesn't seem to have a problem with that. I just think it is not ethical....cause we can't decide that the patient is faking to be sick!
   I can't beleive that some docs do that!
   Ann
5. 
   Mar 9, '02

   It is my understanding that the administration of placebos is illegal within the USA (with the exception of blind studies). The last placebo I gave a patient was in 1976.
6. 
   Mar 10, '02

   I think it's illegal in Canada too - something tied in with informed consent legislation and pt's rights.... I live in manitoba and I have NEVER seen anybody give a placebo.
   
   Ann, you are right to feel uncomfortable if these situations are happening - and it makes you a BETTER nurse, and more equipped to deal with patient care reality than "faking it". Now think about how you'll deal with these same patients without giving a placebo... you're on the right track... In my experience, patients and families apprecuate honesty and directness from their caregivers. They don't need even more reasons to not trust health care staff, and giving them reason to mistrust you is detrimental to every aspect of patient/care provider relationship.
   
   As far as your instructor warning you not to discuss it with teh docs - it's not worth a confrontation - at least not until you are a real nurse and have enough experience/knowledge to back up what you say, etc - but it IS worth a discussion. A doctor could lose his/her license for lying to a patient too, you know. It sounds like you don't have a very team-friendly learning atmosphere in your clinical, which is too bad. Try enlisting the help of your buddy-RN in discussing these issues with the doctor, the unit manager, whoever is interested in becoming involved. And don't give up thinking about the issue, even if you get shot down. YOu may have to toe the line now, but soon you will have to build your own style of practising nursing, and you can do things the way you think they should be done!

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