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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
 Posted - 04/15/2004 : 09:42:58
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I want to be Ben Goldacre when I grow up:It's placebo, but that doesn't mean it's useless. If you wanted to maximise everyone's health, then doctors would confidently lie to their patients about effectiveness of treatments, the way they did before we began championing choice and informed consent over efficacy; and people like me would stop debunking placebo alternative therapies. That would make life a lot easier, wouldn't it? Heck, I've got some medicines I'd like to patent...
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- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2004 : 10:17:27 [Permalink]
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Perhaps it's time for the medical establishment take back control of placebo market. Then, at least it would be a qualified physician who would be making that call. And guess what? I'm not kidding!
I asked my doctor and he said there is no such thing as a placebo requiring a prescription. Pity. On the other hand, he may have been just telling me that as he prescribed yet another placebo for me to take... |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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tomk80
SFN Regular
Netherlands
1278 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2004 : 10:23:54 [Permalink]
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One of my pharmacology professors once told us that probably around 70% of the medical treatments was not proven to be really effective. One of my epidemiology professors told me in addition that the medicins prescribed by doctors for high blood pressure probably don't work, while antidiurethics are probably a very good treatment for high blood pressure.
I haven't gotten round to researching their claims yet, but it sets you thinking. Probably Ben Goldacre's solution is already widely spread 
Placebo treatments are shown to be very effective (in clinical trials researching this, the placebo effect can be responsible for around 70% of the medicin's effect). The only problem about prescribing them as a doctor, is that nobody is going to trust you anymore, since you're prescribing sugar anyway. It would indeed make life a lot easier, only problem is you have to con everybody and that is quite unethical (aside from the fact that it wouldn't work). So unfortunately we'll be doomed to keep on developing real medicins 
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Tom
`Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, `if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'
-Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll- |
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tomk80
SFN Regular
Netherlands
1278 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2004 : 10:32:45 [Permalink]
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quote:
Probably Ben Goldacre's solution is already widely spread
Upon rereading the article, I saw I made an error. Goldacre is not proclaiming to see this as a solution, he's merely pointing out that it works, and would come in handy if we could use it. |
Tom
`Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, `if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'
-Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll- |
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dominic_dice
Skeptic Friend
United Kingdom
53 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2004 : 08:25:02 [Permalink]
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| A problem is that for us Skeptics, would that mean that treatments were less effective? And what about doctors, if they found out that AIDs (unlikly I know but for the sake of argument) could be cured with a placebo would that mean that doctors wouldn't be able to be treated? |
"Are you THE dominic_dice"
"No, a dominic_dice. I come in six packs now" |
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tomk80
SFN Regular
Netherlands
1278 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2004 : 08:42:30 [Permalink]
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quote:
A problem is that for us Skeptics, would that mean that treatments were less effective? And what about doctors, if they found out that AIDs (unlikly I know but for the sake of argument) could be cured with a placebo would that mean that doctors wouldn't be able to be treated?
As far as is known up to now, it all depends on how much trust you put in the medicin. If you trust the medicin to work, than it will probably work better. Come to think of it, if you are positive about the outcome, a treatment also has a better chance of succeeding. So, everybody, think happy thoughts (happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts  ). |
Tom
`Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, `if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'
-Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll- |
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