Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Most family doctors have given a placebo to at least one of their patients, survey findings suggest.
In a poll, 97% of 783 GPs admitted that they had recommended a sugar pill or a treatment with no established efficacy for the ailment their patient came in with.
The PLOS One study authors say this may not be a bad thing - doctors are doing it to help, not to deceive patients.
The Royal College of GPs says there is a place for placebos in medicine.
But they warn that some sham treatments may be inappropriate and could cause side effects or issues such as drug resistance.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21834440
In a poll, 97% of 783 GPs admitted that they had recommended a sugar pill or a treatment with no established efficacy for the ailment their patient came in with.
The PLOS One study authors say this may not be a bad thing - doctors are doing it to help, not to deceive patients.
The Royal College of GPs says there is a place for placebos in medicine.
But they warn that some sham treatments may be inappropriate and could cause side effects or issues such as drug resistance.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21834440