The link above states that most doctors, over 97%, have at some time or another given actual placebos as medicine or prescribed "unapproved" treatments.
This is not entirely a bad thing. It simply shows that these doctors are acting on their better judgement rather than blindly following "the institution". In fact, this practice has many advantages enumerated below:
- Esoterically, "placebo", long considered an unexplained and false phenomena, that exists (does that make it false since it exists?), has it's function in influencing situations including health. "If you can get better without meds. Why take meds?".
- Most people are already programmed by society as a whole that if you are sick you should take meds. Thankfully, many doctors realize that this is not so and is unnecessary and maybe even an overkill. To assuage the ignorant public, placebos have been given.
- "Unproven" treatments give more options to patients. A practice the "industry" frowns upon.
- Many "proven" and "accepted" treatments are actually not that effective or even unnecessary.
- It takes a long time for treatments to be "proven".
- The regulating bodies trying to "prove" treatments often have a stake in the project or sponsors to answer to.
- Many of these "unproven" treatments actually have proofs but are still UNACCEPTED by the institution in general despite the evidence and methodology they so strictly follow. Example: The use of bittergourd (ampalaya) leaves as compared to the conventionally accepted diabetes drugs. Bittergourd was shown to be more effective.