TY - JOUR T1 - Acupuncture trials and informed consent JF - Journal of Medical Ethics JO - J Med Ethics SP - 43 LP - 44 DO - 10.1136/jme.2006.016535 VL - 33 IS - 1 AU - F G Miller AU - T J Kaptchuk Y1 - 2007/01/01 UR - http://jme.bmj.com/content/33/1/43.abstract N2 - Participants are often not informed by investigators who conduct randomised, placebo-controlled acupuncture trials that they may receive a sham acupuncture intervention. Instead, they are told that one or more forms of acupuncture are being compared in the study. This deceptive disclosure practice lacks a compelling methodological rationale and violates the ethical requirement to obtain informed consent. Participants in placebo-controlled acupuncture trials should be provided an accurate disclosure regarding the use of sham acupuncture, consistent with the practice of placebo-controlled drug trials. ER -