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Letter: Placebo ethics

Published 9 June 2001

From Neil Fitzsimmons

I’ve just read the article on children poisoned by lead
(19 May, p 16).
How could the researchers justify giving some of the children a placebo, rather than
the drug to flush the metal from their bodies? Lead is a toxic substance. I
thought the ethics on placebos now require researchers not to withhold treatment
that is known to improve the health of the recipient.

Chatswood, New South Wales

Issue no. 2294 published 9 June 2001

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