> If we (collectively) spent only 10% of the efforts spent on (sellable) > drugs on the placebo effect (and other "cheap" methods), I think the > financial crises in the various health systems wouldn't exist. > > It's unbelievable how much effort gets spent on /avoiding/ > placebo effects, > compared to /creating/ them. This is putting the Hippocratic oath upside > down... placebos create a tricky moral situation. essentially we have discovered that patients get better to some degree if we lie to them in a certain way (that is essentially what a placebo is), that puts principles of honesty directly against principles of helping the patient. -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist