Summary: <p>Deep inside most medical providers there is a war of the psyche; a battle between art and science. We are ambassadors for ‘science’, true believers. Yet we are baffled and unsettled every day by events and conditions that defy the precepts on which we stand.</p> <p>The most ubiquitous emblem of this conflict is placebo. Placebo equals nothing. Doesn’t it? But common surgeries are proven no better than sham surgery. Entire classes of ubiquitous drugs are proven equal to placebo. Thus we may scoff at placebo, but we implicitly confess and embrace the power of placebo every day.</p> <p>This month on SMART EM, a reconciliation.</p>
