There is no solid evidence that the prescription of placebos is illegal. In reviewing the AMA position it is clear that the use of placebos is allowed. Were such use illegal the AMA could not be allowing it, as such would be condoning an illegal act.
Also you continue to assume that the doctor has no understanding of the patient they are seeing nor any understanding of how they can be helped.
Comparing people to cars is insulting, cars can not think or feel!

Quote Originally Posted by SadisticNature View Post
Patients are not the property of doctors. If nothing is wrong the doctor is allowed to within the confines of the law refuse to provide unnecessary treatments. Giving someone a placebo to shut them up is highly problematic. Particularly, because sometimes the doctors are actually wrong, and if they do the consequences are very serious.

There is a reason why prescribing placebo's is illegal, and that reason is a good one. Even assuming most patients are hypochondriacs or looking to score some painkillers, refusing treatment is a viable option, and its one that doesn't hinder the people who actually suffer from legitimate conditions. Often unexplained pain is an early warning sign for certain forms of cancer, and if a doctor treats it with a placebo resulting in a delayed diagnosis that's almost certain to be a massive lawsuit, and I wouldn't for a second think the patient was in the wrong.