But if homeopathy user are being deceived by that placebo effect, is that so bad? Maybe not. There are often situation where medicine has little to offer - back pain, stress at work, medically unexplained fatigue, and most common colds. trying every known medication will give you only side effects. A sugar pill in these circumstances seems a very sensible option. But there are ethical problems. Modern doctors are very open and honest with their patients. But when someone prescribes a homeopathy pill that they known is no more effective than a placebo, without telling their patient, then they show no respect for some very important ideas, such as getting consent from your patient and respecting their right to make decision.