Sample Format/sample case study

Case Study No. 1

“The Newfound Use of Placebo Effect”

I. GATHER THE FACTS

Effects of Morphine

Morphine is a drug that is used to relieve pain in patients. This drug comes in
different forms such as in a liquid form that can be injected, tablets for intake, or even
smoke for inhalation. Commonly used only in moderate to severe pain, excessive use of
this drug can lead to addiction. This is because, as opiate analgesics, morphine works
in a way by commanding the brain and the nervous system to respond differently
towards the pain (Morphine: Medlineplus drug information). Commonly, the effect is of
being in a dreamlike state, thus being abused for pleasure. Additionally, this can provide
euphoria, pain relief, sleepiness, reduced anxiety, and relaxed feeling (Juergens, 2021).
In contrast to these short-term effects, morphine can also cause negative side effects
that can be serious such as difficulty in urinating, changes in heartbeat, hallucinations,
seizures, decreased sexual desire, and such. That is why the use of morphine must be
in moderation and only when prescribed by a medical doctor (Morphine: Medlineplus
drug information).

Use of Placebo on Patients

Placebo is anything related to medicinal treatments that “seems” to have an

effect on a person, but in reality, there is not. Commonly regarded as fake treatment,
placebo strikes on the psychological and mental well-being of a person, thinking that the
medication they took has an effect because of instances of side effects or improvement
(Saling). Placebo and placebo effect is greatly affected and includes a series of complex
happenings inside the body, since this effect also has something to do with the feel-
good neurotransmitters, like the hormones that are related to emotions and moods.
Commonly, placebos are working because the one using the placebo does not know
they are using it, blinding themselves that they are using real medications but are not
(The power of the placebo effect 2019). In 2014, Kam-Hansen and her colleagues led a
study regarding the placebo effect, whereas they analyzed what the people’s reaction
towards placebo would be. They later found out that the placebo they placed also had
50% effectiveness as the real medicine in migraine treatment (Kam-Hansen et al.,
2014).
Lucky and his Dilemma

A newly-hired nurse got himself in a situation where many lives are at stake. In a
hospital he is working in, Lucky discovered that the nurses in that hospital do not use
the prescribed painkillers to patients, thus, only using a placebo. The unused painkillers
were then hidden and are being sold to people who are most in need of them at a lower
price. He also knew that his brother, the one responsible for his education, was
involved. Lucky does not know if he will tell the truth and let justice prevail for the people
affected or just let the same cycle happen again and let it slide since he is indebted to
his brother, and many hospital staff and nurses will lose their job.

II. IDENTIFY THE STAKEHOLDERS

III. ARTICULATE THE DILEMMA BASED ON THEORIES OF

● PLATO -
● AYN RAND -
 ● IMMANUEL KANT -
● DAVID HUME –
● JOHN STUART MILL –

LIST OF ALTERNATIVES
● Alternative 1.
● Alternative 2.

● Alternative 3.
● Alternative 4.
● Alternative 5.

IV. COMPARE THE ALTERNATIVES WITH THE PRINCIPLES

V. WEIGH THE CONSEQUENCES

● Alternative 1
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES
● Alternative 2
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES
● Alternative 3
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES
● Alternative 4
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES

● Alternative 5
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES

VI. MAKE A DECISION

References:

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Morphine: Medlineplus drug information.

MedlinePlus. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682133.html.

Juergens, J. (2021, November 15). Morphine addiction and abuse. Addiction Center.
Retrieved November 16, 2021, from
https://www.addictioncenter.com/opiates/morphine/.

Saling, J. (n.d.). The placebo effect: What is it? WebMD. Retrieved November 16, 2021,
from https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/what-is-the-placebo-effect.

The power of the placebo effect. Harvard Health. (2019, August 9). Retrieved November
16, 2021, from
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/the-power-of-the-placebo-effect.

Kam-Hansen, S., Jakubowski, M., Kelley, J. M., Kirsch, I., Hoaglin, D. C., Kaptchuk, T. J.,
& Burstein, R. (2014). Altered placebo and drug labeling change the outcome of
episodic migraine attacks. Science Translational Medicine, 6(218).
https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3006175