'Most doctors have prescribed placebos'

Almost all doctors in the UK have prescribed a placebo at least once in their career, researchers at Oxford University have found.

The study shows that 97 per cent of doctors have used so-called impure placebos which are unproven treatments given to reassure patients.

It also found that 12 per cent have given a pure placebo, which is a sugar pill or saline injection with no active ingredient.

The study was carried out by a random sample of doctors surveyed online.

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