Hofling et al(1966)

Aim:

Investigate what happens when a nurse is ordered to carry out a procedure which goes           against her professional standards.

Procedure: 

• Identical boxes of capsules, placed in 22 wards in USA
• Were placebos but were labelled '5mg capsules of Astrofen'
• Label also indicated max daily dose of 10 mg
• 'Doctor' instructed nurse by phone to give patient 20mg of astrofen as he was in a hurry and patient needed capsules
• Said he would sign authorisation when he got there
• Real doctor nearby observed what the nurse did next
• Then they revealed to the nurse what was really going on.

Results:

• 21 out of 22 nurses obeyed
• 11 said they were aware of discrepancy in the dosage
• Dramatic difference between what nurses interviewed said they would do and…