http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/health/23placebo.html
The above article discusses a recent survey that says that over half of American doctors prescribe placebos to their patients. These placebos vary from headache medicine to vitamin pills to antibiotics and sedatives. I am not sure I would call a sedative or an antibiotic a placebo. However, the point is they are giving their patient something.
The article goes on to, in my opinion, castigate the doctors. I see it differently. We should know our bodies, but we are a "microwave nation", always wanting the quick fix. I have absolutely no issue with a doctor giving a person a vitamin in order to help them help themselve. I am more disgusted that the individual thinks they need a pill to get well.
So what are your opinions? Is the doctor at fault for giving them something or is the patient at fault for wanting a pill to get better.
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We did a story on this for out 10 oclock news last night.
I don't think it's a horrible idea, as long as it's not costing patients money (I'm not sure how it works... but I would hate to think I'd go to the pharmacy and pay $60 for a sugar pill or vitamin).
Wow, interesting indeed. I think there has to be some middle-ground to be found. But I certainly agree that many folks want quick solutions without thinking about the cost both on thier bodies as well as on the healthcare system (and eveyone else paying too).
ooooh, what a topic! I can go nuts on this stuff... that said, when I got to really thinking about it years ago & switched all my doctors to the homeopathic ones so they fix the root not mask the problem...
Thanks for the good read!
I think if a doctor thinks a patient does not need a prescription then that doctor should not prescribe anything. It is also not right of the patient to demand a prescription when only have a vague notion of what is going on.
I agree with rocketpants...unfortunately it is sometimes "just easier" to give them what they want than risk losing a patient or some frivolous (pardon the spelling) involvement of a lawsuit...[because there will always be someone who would've done something differently when it comes to medicine]. Good post.
Part of the problem is stemming from drug companies putting advertisements on television asking people to talk to their doctors if they experience any one of the itching, burning, lethargic, not getting a rise out of things symptoms.
People are self diagnosing themselves from stuff they see on the Discovery Health channel and try to prescribe themselves with drugs they see on television and the doctors are unfortunately being pressured to "just write the prescription" rather than do their job as a health care professional.
Hello.. I stumbled on your post from Rainmaker. Pretty good topic to write about. There was a similar article published from research done in Chicago a little while back as well.
A few things come to mind in response to this. First, you will NEVER go to a pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens, etc) and be picking up a sugar pill/placebo. They simply do not exist in the retail sector. Second, they only polled rheumatologists (joint pain, arthritis, etc).. How is it considered a bad thing to give people Aleve? People are demanding stronger and stronger drugs, thinking that over-the-counters don't work. In reality, many prescription drugs are very hard on the body. Being heavily advertised however, most people see the commercials and instantly think X drug will fix them.
Unfortunatly, I think both are at fault here - Doctors are trying to make as much money as they can, given the drastic cuts they've seen with skyrocketing malpractice insurance costs. Patients want a quick fix, and the commercial they saw showed people being happy and filled with life again after taking X drug... and they want that feeling too.
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