[sp332]

There was a study where knee surgeons just made an incision in the skin and told the patient the procedure was done. The result was about the same rate of success, and a lot less risk of complications. I can't find a date on this article but it's at least from 2010 if not older. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=116879&page=1

[lawpoop]

Wouldn't they have to do a bit more, to induce pain, swelling, soreness and such, for the patient to think surgery on their knee had actually been performed?

[vitd]

Isn't it unethical to lie to a patient? Isn't that grounds for a malpractice suit?

[felipemora]

As part of a study? No. This is how studies are done. Give one set of people the real medicine and another people the fake one and see what happens. They are told before hand that they could receive the fake medicine/treatment and they must agree to the study.

[jrimclean]

Not if they agreed to be part of a study. Otherwise, no one could use a placebo.

[lawpoop]

In a study, patients aren't lied to exactly; they're told their either going to receive a real treatment or a phony one, but they won't know which.