The ethical problem of deception is hard to address mainly due to its two features: irreversibility and opaqueness. Once the deception takes place, it is hard, if not impossible, to undo it. The subject's willingness to participate is, in principle, opaque to the consent-seeker unless the latter explicitly asks for consent.
Milgram's obedience experiment is a famous example, where participants’ unfeigned responses were collected while concealing that the button they pushed did not actually give any electrical shock.
To make human subject research more honest, we should strive to avoid deception. Honesty isn’t just about telling the truth; it’s about respecting participants' right not to be deceived.
In clinical trials, participants are often misled about the drug’s nature, potential side effects, or the likelihood of receiving a placebo, which aims to study the placebo effect.
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