A physician orders a placebo for a patient. What is a placebo?
A) an inactive substance given in place of a drug
B) a smaller than usual dose of an analgesic
C) an analgesic with no known side effects
D) an intravenous form of a potent analgesic

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A placebo is an inactive substance given in place of a drug, often used in clinical trials as a control group to compare the effectiveness of an experimental drug. It is also sometimes given to patients who have a psychological or perceived need for medication but do not actually require active treatment.

A Physician Orders a Placebo for a Patient