January 10, 2008

Doctors give patients placebos

In survey conducted by the University of Chicago it was found that around forty eight per cent of doctors had at some time given a treatment to their patients of which they knew would probably not work or at least had no evidence that it would work.

These placebo treatments may include vitamins, herbal supplements, saline infusions, dummy pills and low dosages of medicines that would not do anything.

The question that would need to be asked here, is why? Why would a professional act in this manner, is it because they disbelieve the patient and just want to get rid of them? Or is it because they are carrying out some sort of a test?

Source [Consumerist]