I have no doubt some doctors give placebos to some people. Complex issue.
As as platoon medic, I used a placebo ONCE . We were out bush. I had no strong analgesic except morphia. Bloke had a blinding migraine. We had camped for the night. I gave him ONE unmarked aspirin, telling him it was a powerful pain killer. That it would take away his migraine in about 20 minutes, and that he would then fall into a deep sleep. I told the sergeant within the bloke's hearing the same thing, and perhaps not put him on guard duty. It worked. Bloke thanked me the next morning. I had used his trust . Never did it again. Plus it might not have worked. A bad practice on a regular basis.
As as platoon medic, I used a placebo ONCE . We were out bush. I had no strong analgesic except morphia. Bloke had a blinding migraine. We had camped for the night. I gave him ONE unmarked aspirin, telling him it was a powerful pain killer. That it would take away his migraine in about 20 minutes, and that he would then fall into a deep sleep. I told the sergeant within the bloke's hearing the same thing, and perhaps not put him on guard duty. It worked. Bloke thanked me the next morning. I had used his trust . Never did it again. Plus it might not have worked. A bad practice on a regular basis.
