Use of Placebos in Pain Management

The American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) holds the position that a placebo should not be used by any method to assess and/or manage an individual’s pain regardless of their age or diagnosis. The only justifiable use of placebos is for participants enrolled in a blinded clinical trial. These clinical trials must be Institutional Review Board (or equivalent) approved with participants clearly informed that they may receive a placebo before they consent to participate and actually have the sham treatment administered.