Just a Spoonful of Sugar…
Jennifer Buettner, a Maryland mother, claims that she was caring for her niece, who had a “nagging case of hypochondria”, when she came up with the idea to create a new drug for children. Actually, it’s not a drug and needs no approval from the FDA. It is a placebo pill, cleverly named Obecalp (placebo spelled backwards), that can be given to children to make them feel better though the pill is not providing any sort of medicine. The intent is to basically trick children in to thinking that they are receiving medication. I won’t say too much on this as I’m more interested in how you, the reader, feel. To get the conversation started, consider these questions:
- Deception is usually frowned upon in clinical trials of pharmaceuticals. Is deception appropriate in this case because it’s not an actual drug?
- Should conditions such as hypochondria be treated by a doctor or quelled with a fake pill?
- Is there something to be said for having a pill that helps “make it all better”?
- Should the FDA or other regulatory bodies be weighing in on this?
Medical ethicists, bioethicists, family physicians, psychologists and Mrs. Buettner herself all weigh in with their opinions in The New York Times.
Sources:
Experts Questions Placebo Pill for Children - The New York Times, May 27, 2008
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POSTED IN: Drugs and Meds
6 opinions for Just a Spoonful of Sugar…
Tracee Sioux
May 29, 2008 at 11:12 am
Hypochondria is a little extreme when discussing children. Children are usually asking for attention via a Band Aid or some “medicine” if they are not sick. They are trying to illicit sympathy or empathy.
Parents often give them a home remedy - honey and lemon for a cough or slap a Band Aid on a problem. I don’t know why a consumer would pay money for such a placebo.
My concern comes when regular doctors start prescribing a Placebo. Giving patients fake shots for migraines and then charging them for a real shot in the ER. I think this might actually happen if the Dr. feels the patient is a true hypochondriac. This is fraud in my opinion.
Certainly there is that old MASH episode where they gave the patients sugar pills after they ran out of real pain killers and they actually worked!
Eric
May 29, 2008 at 11:32 am
Hypochondriasis is classified as a somatoform disorder in the DSM and not a trivial condition. It’s a real psychological disorder that requires treatment by a medical professional. Self-medication is usually not recommended for disorders such as this.
http://www.minddisorders.com/Flu-Inv/Hypochondriasis.html
julie
May 29, 2008 at 12:00 pm
i think this is a sad realization of an over-medicated population. what do we expect? kids mimick what they see… they see adults popping pills for headaches, depression, pain, weightloss, countless “syndromes”…. then their classmates with ADD/ADHD or other psychological disorders. an otherwise normal, healthy child begins to wonder what medical problem they need a pill for.
Becky Ramsey
May 29, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Thanks for the comments, and Tracee, Eric and Julie, I agree with all of you. It’s hard to tell from the NY Times article, but my guess is that Jennifer Buettner’s niece was not actually suffering from hypochondria which, as Eric points out, is a condition not to be taken lightly.
If children are actually suffering, they should be appropriately treated. If they have a tummy ache, a scrape, or some other minor boo-boo that can be cured with a little good ol’ fashion activity redirection, then I’d go that route. Why introduce children to unnecessary pills as Julie mentioned?
Other thoughts?
Nate Legue
May 29, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Hmmm… I’ve got a 5-year-old and I can get a whole bag of “placebos” for 60 cents at Walgreens. They have a candy coating imprinted with an “M.” Otherwise, it’s tough to get him to take medicine when he’s actually sick.
Anyway, Becky, it’s me Nate Legue. Let’s catch up; I cover health care for the Register Star. Will you email me at nlegue@rrstar.com because your address at b5media isn’t working for me?
Tonda
Jun 2, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I tend to think that a large majority of potentially sick patients visiting hospitals, clinics, doctors offices are not sick at all. This “I’m sick and I need attention” disorder isn’t just a childs trick. I know people who complain about their ailments to whomever will listen just to get somebody to listen to them, hence for attention.
I think that if a doctor truly believes the patient is lying or overexagerating the problem then a placebo pill could be the next best “miracle drug”.
-t
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