Survey: Half of US doctors use placebo treatments

[lucy]

And many of these doctors are not honest with their patients about what they are doing, the survey found.

Well, if a doctor tells the patient it's a placebo, it isn't a placebo anymore, isn't it?
And placebos in fact can help, whereas telling a patient "sorry, but i can't help you with your problem" which would often be the right and honest thing to do would also just make the patient move on to the next doc.

However, i think using actual drugs like painkillers and especially antibiotics is definitely wrong.

[mkemse]

Well, if a doctor tells the patient it's a placebo, it isn't a placebo anymore, isn't it?
And placebos in fact can help, whereas telling a patient "sorry, but i can't help you with your problem" which would often be the right and honest thing to do would also just make the patient move on to the next doc.

However, i think using actual drugs like painkillers and especially antibiotics is definitely wrong.

If I am in extreme pain do to chronic back problem, a very bad cold ect, I would not want a Placebo ,I want the real thing, yes there are cases where a Placebo may trick the mind to believe it feels better, but in the Case of Servere Chronic Back Pain, the Flu ect I want the real thing not a Sugar Pill
But then again I have had the same Internest for 30 years so there is no question in my mind whether I trust or believe in him