LSAT 109 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q13

LR Question 13 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Ethicist: Studies have documented the capacity of…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: Administering placebos is ethically questionable.

REASONING: Placebos can sometimes be effective and speed recovery. But doctors may prescribe them merely to convince the patient that something is being done.

ANALYSIS: The ethicist’s argument is not great. If a placebo helps (and has no side effects) then it seems like a good idea to use them even if it involves deceiving the patient. Sometimes there is nothing else that can be done.

The argument assumes that the motives of the doctor are more important than the placebos’ (positive) impact on the patient.

___________

1. Even if a patient’s psychological satisfaction were relevant it might still be wrong to administer a placebo. Perhaps the doctor could psychologically satisfy the patient using another method that did not involve deception.
2. CORRECT. If the motivation isn’t relevant then it doesn’t matter why a doctor administers a placebo. 
3. This would help the argument. But it isn’t necessary. It could be that placebos are only ethically indefensible when they are given in place of a more difficult but also effective option. (i.e. the doctor is just being lazy and deceptive)
4. The argument is stronger if this isn’t true. It’s arguing that placebos are often not justified.
5. The argument is only talking about placebos prescribed by a doctor. It doesn’t matter what non-doctors do.