The Wire

A recent survey reported that a high number of Australian General Practitioners prescribe both active (e.g. antibiotics) or inert (e.g. sugar pills) placebos to their patients.

However, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGPs) has called the survey into question for their definitions of active placebo, which they say is one that is not usually used in the medical profession, and the sample size used.

Nonetheless, both the RACGPs and the researchers behind the study agree that GPs should be open about prescribing placebos to their patients.