Doctors Playing God? 97 Percent from Survey Admitted to Giving Patients Placebos at Some Point

It might seem a tad unethical or even like playing God, but a recent study shows that nearly all doctors have at one point or another given patients a placebo in place of an actual "drug."

The Daily Mail reports that 97 percent admitted to giving 'impure' placebos to patients, stating that the pills have medicinal value but could not be specifically used for the illness of the patient. Twelve percent also indicated that they had used 'pure' placebos, including sugar pills.

Oxford research fellow Dr Jeremy Howick, one of the study's leaders, said: 'This is not about doctors deceiving patients. 

'The study shows placebo use is widespread in the UK, and doctors clearly believe placebos can help patients.'

The doctors surveyed gave similar reasons for prescribing both pure and impure placebos.

They said they gave the medicines because patients had requested  treatment, to reassure patients, or to produce a psychological effect.

Placebo usage goes against current GMC ethical codes, although the researchers say these should now be re-evaluated.

Dr Howick added: 'Current ethical rulings on placebos ought to be revisited in light of the strong evidence suggesting doctors broadly support their use.'

Sixty-six percent of the doctors surveyed said that pure placebos were ethically acceptable in certain circumstances and 33 percent said they were never acceptable. Yet impure places were acceptable by 84 percent of doctors and more than 90 percent opposed the use of either type, considering it may hurt the trust of the doctor and the patient.

The study, by academics at the Universities of Oxford and Southampton, is from a random sample of doctors who were surveyed online, with 783 responses.

The conclusions led researchers to believe a little sugar pill might not be as harmless as some doctors thought if it would endanger the trust between the patient and the doctor.