In the UK, a House of Commons body has recently recommended that homeopathy no longer receive state support - for the perfectly good reason that there is no evidence that the theory behind homeopathy has any validity. However, it is recognized that it may have value as a placebo and hence helping some people to get well. One concern seems to be that patients ought not to be misled.
That, of course, leads to the paradoxical state of affairs. Placebos can work; but patients should be told that they are taking placebos - the desire for transparency and honesty - and that usually reduces their effectiveness.
I wonder how many ill patients would prefer to be informed and remain ill...or rather trivially deceived yet be made better? After all, how many patients worry about the theory behind prescriptions more than whether what is prescribed will make them better?
1 comment:
I believe that it is possible for people to hold simultaneous contradictory beliefs, so that they can believe in homeopathy whilst understanding the scientific arguments which dismiss it. It is simply that people will believe what they want to believe. Many GPs suggest homeopathy, hence the famous doctors acronym - TEETH ( tried everything else try homeopathy ) but I feel sure that they also tell the patient there is no scientific evidence for it.Many people now believe that there is "the scientific view " and then there is.....
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