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Half of American Doctors Often Prescribe Placebos

Posted by timothy on from the first-do-no-nothin' dept.

damn_registrars writes "'Half of all American doctors responding to a nationwide survey say they regularly prescribe placebos to patients. The results trouble medical ethicists, who say more research is needed to determine whether doctors must deceive patients in order for placebos to work.' The study just quoted goes on to say that the drugs most often used as placebo are headache pills, vitamins, and antibiotics. Studies on doctors in Europe and New Zealand have found similar results."

5 of 238 comments (clear)

  1. And the worst part is... by elgol · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...they don't even tell the patients that they are getting a placebo!!!

  2. Re:Many surgical provedures are placebos. by Aphoxema · · Score: 4, Funny

    Vasectomies don't really make your little guys stop running around, they just make you think they're not supposed to anymore.

    --
    "Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"
  3. Re:this pisses me off by flyingsquid · · Score: 3, Funny

    Placebo(TM): the name trusted by half of America's doctors! Ask your doctor if Placebo(TM) is right for you.

  4. Ethical issues? by xstonedogx · · Score: 3, Funny

    I hear there is a pill for that now.

  5. Re:First Post! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nah, just a little bit off the top.