Honesty and Placebos by Ted Bacharach MD (retired)

Placebos were once used effectively by physicians. It is one tool that is denied us at present and can no longer be a part of our armamentarium because it was not used “honestly”. Things that were not completely honest were shunned by most people. We have come a long way since then and our present society looks at “lying” differently. Now baseball players like Barry Bond can be convicted of obstructing justice because of a lie. At the same time we have a congress that permits its members to lie to our United States Senate floor without penalty. Apparently the lack of truthfulness by our elected representatives is accepted. All is fair when partisan politics or

“electioneering” is involved.