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Essay: Franklin G Miller and Ted J Kaptchuk The power of context: reconceptualizing the placebo effect J R Soc Med 2008; 101: 222-225 [Full text] [PDF]

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Placebo (Miller and Kaptchuk) -happiness

JK Anand   (3 August 2008)

Placebo (Miller and Kaptchuk) -happiness 3 August 2008
JK Anand, Retired doctor N/A Send letter to journal: Re: Placebo (Miller and Kaptchuk) -happiness joginder.a{at}ntlworld.com JK Anand	It is sad that sometimes the doctors feel unhappy about making the patient happy. Patients go to the doctor for alleviation of their pain - physical, mental or both. For the doctor to do some good in this matter, s(he) needs to win the confidence of the patient. Whether the medicine - or surgical procedure or, say, physiotherapy - prescribed has passed the tests of randomised controlled trials and animal experiments is not always of interest to the patient. S(he) wants to know if the doctor can help. Of course if the doctor is able to explain the pathology to a patient able to understand the explanation, the therapy prescribed is likely to produce better and quicker effects. A doctor who tells lies which will come out one day can only diminish the patient's faith in the therapy. This is particularly the case where the doctor has erred (haven't we all?). So, let the doctor earn the patient's confidence. Fatal disease? Even here,remains some scope for giving a true diagnosis but keeping alive some hope for the patient.