Sham surgery controls: intracerebral grafting of fetal tissue for Parkinson's disease and proposed criteria for use of sham surgery controls

Journal of Medical Ethics 28 (5):322-325 (2002)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Sham surgery is a controversial and rarely used component of randomised clinical trials evaluating surgical interventions. The recent use of sham surgery in trials evaluating efficacy of intracerebral fetal tissue grafts in Parkinson’s disease has highlighted the ethical concerns associated with sham surgery controls. Macklin, and Dekkers and Boer argue vigorously against use of sham surgery controls. Macklin presents a broad argument against sham surgery controls while Dekkers and Boer present a narrower argument that sham surgery is unnecessary in the specific setting of fetal tissue engraftment for Parkinson’s disease. I defend sham surgery controls against both these criticisms. Appropriate clinical trial design, sometimes including sham surgery, is needed to ensure that false positive trial results do not occur and endanger public safety. Results of a completed trial of fetal tissue grafting for Parkinson’s disease are used to illustrate the potential benefits of, and problems associated with, sham surgery controls. Sham surgery controls, however, should be employed only when absolutely necessary. I suggest criteria for appropriate use of sham surgery controls

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,593

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Sham surgery controls are mitigated trolleys.R. L. Albin - 2005 - Journal of Medical Ethics 31 (3):149-152.
Sham surgery: Not an oxymoron.Charles J. Kowalski - 2003 - American Journal of Bioethics 3 (4):8 – 9.
Sham Surgery in Research: A Surgeon's View.Peter Angelos - 2003 - American Journal of Bioethics 3 (4):65-66.
Sham Neurosurgery in Parkinson's Disease: Ethical at the Time.John C. Fletcher - 2003 - American Journal of Bioethics 3 (4):54-56.

Analytics

Added to PP
2010-08-24

Downloads
46 (#304,991)

6 months
3 (#445,838)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Robert Albin
Sapir College

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references