• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Many doctors using placebos

Many doctors using placebos

October 24, 2008 By WRN Contributor

A new survey suggests nearly half of U.S. doctors are routinely using placebos.

The national survey of nearly 700 doctors found about half admit to regularly using placebos to treat patients.

Dr. Norman Fost, a bio-ethicist with UW-Health, says the findings are troubling. He says it's generally not a good idea to deceive patients because it can make them less likely to trust doctors in the future.

The study had a very broad definition of placebos, which could include sugar pills, pain relievers, or even antibiotics. The Wisconsin Medical Society's Dr. Richard Roberts says that creates a large area to work with. He says doctors are supposed to "do no harm" and have duty to whatever they can to make a person feel better.

Still, Roberts says giving a placebo to patients could cross a line. He says truth is a very important part of the doctor-patient relationship, which can be harmed if the patient is deceived.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:01)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine



Featured Stories

Pro-life groups condemn Kahl lawsuit to overturn 1849 abortion ban

Wisconsin politicians react as SCOTUS overturns Roe v. Wade

Republicans gavel in and out of special session to overturn Wisconsin’s abortion law

Juneteenth flag raised at Wisconsin Capitol

Gableman invokes 5th amendment, elections probe found in contempt in open records case

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC