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Most UK GPs Have Prescribed Placebos

Posted by samzenpus on from the balance-the-humors dept.

Techmeology writes "In a survey of UK GPs, 97% said they'd recommended placebo treatments to their patients, with some doctors telling patients that the treatment had helped others without telling them that it was a placebo. While some doctors admitted to using a sugar pill or saline injection, some of the placebos offered had side effects such as antibiotic treatments used as placebos for viral infections."

2 of 240 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Antibiotic Placebo? by Inoen · · Score: 5, Insightful
    A friend of mine is currently in the hospital with a simple infection, that would normally be easily treated with antibiotics. But this one has been resistant to everything they've tried. Worst case, they will have to take off his leg.

    I agree; using antibiotics where they aren't needed is despicable.

  2. Re:Antibiotic Placebo? by bigtomrodney · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's exactly how I feel, but moreover logically that is why these medicines are prescription only.

    As a European I was horrified to see that prescription medicines are routinely and frequently advertised on television in the USA instructing the viewer to ask their doctor to prescribe the medicine.

    --
    I never get used to these constant resurrections