Abstract
This paper gives an overview of the placebo effect in popular culture, especially as it pertains to the work of authors Patrick O’Brian and Sinclair Lewis. The beloved physician as placebo, and the clinician scientist as villain are themes that respectively inform the novels, The Hundred Days and Arrowsmith. Excerpts from the novels, and from film show how the placebo effect, and the randomized clinical trial, have emerged into popular culture, and evolved over time.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Snow R. (1991) An Author I’d Walk the Plank For, The New York Times Book Review (January 6, 1991).
O’Brian, P. (1998) The Hundred Days. W.W. Norton & Company, New York.
Lewis, S. (1925) Arrowsmith. Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., New York.
Arrowsmith © 1932, Samuel Goldwyn
Kleinman A, Guess HA, Wilentz JS (2002) in: Engel, L.W., Guess, H.A., Kleinman, A., & Kusek, J.W., eds. The Science of the Placebo: Toward an Interdisciplinary Research Agenda. British Medical Journal Press, London: (1).
http://launch.yahoo.com/artist/artistfocus.asp?artistID=1021104
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/placebo/109340.html
http://www.placebojournal.com
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marshall, M.F. The placebo effect in popular culture. SCI ENG ETHICS 10, 37–42 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-004-0060-2
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-004-0060-2