News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Indian Government uses special powers to slash cancer drug price by 97%. Parent comment

Re:Indian Government uses special powers to slash cancer dru... by Symmetry on Tuesday March 13, 2012 @01:31PM (#3699417)
The placebo effect only really changes self-reported symptoms. It makes people feel much better and that shouldn't be discounted, but it doesn't change things you can make objective measurements of - like whether the patient is alive or dead.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Indian Government uses special powers to slash cancer dru... by ars on Tuesday March 13, 2012 @03:08PM (#3699862)
That isn't actually true. Ask any doctor about patients who just lost the will to live. Also read about the research about morphine and placebos, how a morphine blocking drug actually blocked the placebo effect - without the person knowing they got the blocker drug!

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/cannabinoids-place...

[ Parent | on HN ]