Survey: Half of US doctors use placebo treatments

[SadisticNature]

So its acceptable for doctors to trick patients into paying for something that's only value to them is psychological?

Lets try that in the finances, would you agree with the following statement?

"It's ok for a financial banker to trick someone about how safe their investments are as long as they believe the person will make money?"

To me these situations seem comparable, you're deliberately tricking someone, and justify it by believing you are doing it for their own good. You might be right (and lots of data shows placebo's can help), but you might be wrong as well (you might prevent them from pursuing a better course of treatment).

If someone actually wanted a placebo let them sign up for a research study, they'll either get a placebo or something that potentially works and is safe enough for testing on humans.

[DuncanONeil]

Economics and medicine can in no way provide an adequate comparison.
Much of medicine is in the mind even when a drug is prescribed. The complaint against your offer was that there may be nothing wrong with the patient, yet they insist that there is and some drug will help them. With no evidence of an underlying malady you are opposed to the doctor prescribing a placebo. Or in the case where the patients desire for a specific advertised drug is also not indicated for their "condition" the doctor can not exercise his training and "treat" HIS patient in the manner that best suits HIS patient.
Part of the problem is again the assumption that if the patient is at the doctor that there must absolutely be something wrong!

So its acceptable for doctors to trick patients into paying for something that's only value to them is psychological?

Lets try that in the finances, would you agree with the following statement?

"It's ok for a financial banker to trick someone about how safe their investments are as long as they believe the person will make money?"

To me these situations seem comparable, you're deliberately tricking someone, and justify it by believing you are doing it for their own good. You might be right (and lots of data shows placebo's can help), but you might be wrong as well (you might prevent them from pursuing a better course of treatment).

If someone actually wanted a placebo let them sign up for a research study, they'll either get a placebo or something that potentially works and is safe enough for testing on humans.

[SadisticNature]

Economics and medicine can in no way provide an adequate comparison.
Much of medicine is in the mind even when a drug is prescribed. The complaint against your offer was that there may be nothing wrong with the patient, yet they insist that there is and some drug will help them. With no evidence of an underlying malady you are opposed to the doctor prescribing a placebo. Or in the case where the patients desire for a specific advertised drug is also not indicated for their "condition" the doctor can not exercise his training and "treat" HIS patient in the manner that best suits HIS patient.
Part of the problem is again the assumption that if the patient is at the doctor that there must absolutely be something wrong!

Patients are not the property of doctors. If nothing is wrong the doctor is allowed to within the confines of the law refuse to provide unnecessary treatments. Giving someone a placebo to shut them up is highly problematic. Particularly, because sometimes the doctors are actually wrong, and if they do the consequences are very serious.

There is a reason why prescribing placebo's is illegal, and that reason is a good one. Even assuming most patients are hypochondriacs or looking to score some painkillers, refusing treatment is a viable option, and its one that doesn't hinder the people who actually suffer from legitimate conditions. Often unexplained pain is an early warning sign for certain forms of cancer, and if a doctor treats it with a placebo resulting in a delayed diagnosis that's almost certain to be a massive lawsuit, and I wouldn't for a second think the patient was in the wrong.

[DuncanONeil]

There is no solid evidence that the prescription of placebos is illegal. In reviewing the AMA position it is clear that the use of placebos is allowed. Were such use illegal the AMA could not be allowing it, as such would be condoning an illegal act.
Also you continue to assume that the doctor has no understanding of the patient they are seeing nor any understanding of how they can be helped.
Comparing people to cars is insulting, cars can not think or feel!

Patients are not the property of doctors. If nothing is wrong the doctor is allowed to within the confines of the law refuse to provide unnecessary treatments. Giving someone a placebo to shut them up is highly problematic. Particularly, because sometimes the doctors are actually wrong, and if they do the consequences are very serious.

There is a reason why prescribing placebo's is illegal, and that reason is a good one. Even assuming most patients are hypochondriacs or looking to score some painkillers, refusing treatment is a viable option, and its one that doesn't hinder the people who actually suffer from legitimate conditions. Often unexplained pain is an early warning sign for certain forms of cancer, and if a doctor treats it with a placebo resulting in a delayed diagnosis that's almost certain to be a massive lawsuit, and I wouldn't for a second think the patient was in the wrong.