Is this legal?

[Kaaa]

I had a pt that was drug dependent and bipolar and was given the max amount of pain medications the doctor would allow. My instruction gave her a syringe of saline to calm her down. This did help but I wonder if this is legal. Anyone ever hear of this happening before?

[elkpark]

Yes, and it's illegal and unethical (outside of some v. specific circumstances).

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Placebos are not allowed except in drug trials that the patient has consented to it already.

It's not ethical to mislead a patient about their treatment.

[elkpark]

Placebos are not allowed except in drug trials that the patient has consented to it already.

It's not ethical to mislead a patient about their treatment.

(Well, technically, they are allowed outside of drug trials, but only, as you note, in situations in which the client has given informed consent to receive placebos.)

[lifestudentrn]

I think the La Charity book has a question like this. From what I remember, the answer was to administer the placebo and talk to the charge nurse.

[NuGuyNurse2b]

I think the La Charity book has a question like this. From what I remember, the answer was to administer the placebo and talk to the charge nurse.

What was the rationale??

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

If there is a specific order for the placebo it is "allowed. The current AMA practice is....

the AMA also states that placebos may only be allowed in clinical practice if the patient is informed of and agrees to its use” (American Medical Association). Furthermore, the physician need neither identify the placebo nor seek specific consent before its administration” (American Medical Association) because the physician respects the patient's autonomy and fosters a trusting relationship”

Placebo Administration to Depressed Patients: An Analysis of the Ethics of the Placebo in Clinical Practice - Student Pulse

So if there is an order yes you can give it.....if there is not an order no you may not.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Placebos can be effective parts of a medical plan of care. Even though they are not, by definition, active substances, they still have effects, as the above article tells you. Therefore they must be prescribed as part of the medical plan of care* and can only be given in that context. Placebos are not part of the scope of nursing practice to prescribe as part of a nursing plan of care.

*the campaign to lose the word "order" as part of the physician-nurse relationship continues; we are not in the military and they are not our superiors. No, they aren't. You can look it up.