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2006-03-05 Science & Technology
Gulf War Veteran Gets Placebos Instead Of Real Medicine
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Posted by Anonymoose 2006-03-05 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11125 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Nice to have a bit of clarity from a military perspective, thanks Anonymous.

To contribute - I've been working as a (civilian) psychiatric nurse for coming 20 years, often with PTSD sufferers (Vietnem Vets and Gulf 91), and in that time have never witnessed a single placebo prescribed or administered.

That's not to say that that placebo effects don't occur, just in a different context. That is, often patients respond to the medication before they've had the chance to be absorbed or to work. However this has hardly anything to do with orchestrated deception.

For those interested in PTSD and the current effects on US soldiers in Iraq (and the very responsible interventions undertaken by the US Military for PTSD and Battle Stress), check out "Scientific American Mind" Magazine, Feb/March 2006.

PS. No letter bombs please. Last time I contributed like this I got some surprize emails, but being legitimate, check out the links first.
Posted by Incredulous 2006-03-05 02:55||   2006-03-05 02:55|| Front Page Top

#2 I suppose I should add the link.

Unfortunately one needs to subscribe to read the entire article, but the summary is regarding the innovative approach undertaken by the US Army in addressing Battle Stress issues.

http://sciammind.com/article.cfm?&articleID=00067306-43AE-13D9-810183414B7F0000
Posted by Incredulous 2006-03-05 03:22||   2006-03-05 03:22|| Front Page Top

#3 I believe the perspective is courtesy of Dr. Steve White, M.D., A.o.S.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-03-05 08:53||   2006-03-05 08:53|| Front Page Top

#4 But, but it could be true! Just because it stinks to high heaven doesn't mean that there's no perfume on this planet. It's a very truthy piece.
Posted by 6 2006-03-05 09:40||   2006-03-05 09:40|| Front Page Top

#5 Even if a doc could proscribe placebos, the word wouldn't appear on the presciption or the pills. It would defeat the purpose.

Add in the lack of names, and, yeah, this doesn't just smell like bullshit, it is bullshit.
Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford  2006-03-05 10:13|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/]  2006-03-05 10:13|| Front Page Top

#6 Special note for the editor, in re: VA administrators.

Right now, the left is beating the drum about the chief of a VA hospital human resources division in Albuquerque.

Some nurse at the hospital sent a letter to the editor of her local newspaper which called Bush a "poopy-pants", more or less. Big deal.

The chief of HR (Catbert) ordered the "information security" people at the hospital to confiscate her work computer to see if she had used it to write and send the letter. She hadn't.

Then, when she inquired as to why her computer had been snatched, he FOOLISHLY said that he HAD to investigate all suggestions of, and I quote, "sedition".

SEDITION?! What an idiot. Well, anyway, the left, especially the ACLU, is trying to make a 1st Amendment issue out of this deal, trying to imply that the hospital chief of human resources, some GS-13 NOBODY, was acting on orders from the administration.

Ergo, it is all Bush's fault, and he is having people investigated for criticizing him, etc., ad nauseum.

Now, this of course has little bearing on the use or misuse of placebos at some other VA hospital. However, it does point out that at least ONE VA administrator is an utter idiot.

(One last note: the nurse's union rep did everything in his power to exacerbate the situation, suggesting that Catbert had even called the FBI in to investigate the nurse, a charge Catbert denies.)
Posted by Anonymoose 2006-03-05 10:42||   2006-03-05 10:42|| Front Page Top

#7 References: Google the nurse, Laura Berg, or Catbert, Mel Hooker.
Posted by Anonymoose 2006-03-05 10:44||   2006-03-05 10:44|| Front Page Top

#8 I'm sorry glad those last names weren't reversed.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-03-05 10:59||   2006-03-05 10:59|| Front Page Top

#9 Well, anyway, the left, especially the ACLU, is trying to make a 1st Amendment issue out of this deal, trying to imply that the hospital chief of human resources, some GS-13 NOBODY, was acting on orders from the administration.

Don't you know? Not a sparrow falls that isn't the Bush administration's fault.
Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford  2006-03-05 11:44|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/]  2006-03-05 11:44|| Front Page Top

#10 Story stinks to high heaven. No placebo is labelled as obecalp. Total bull. Not even when prescribed to get rid of 'chondriacs. There is a common label. That ain't it.
Posted by Hupomoger Clans9827 2006-03-05 13:47||   2006-03-05 13:47|| Front Page Top

#11 Placebin---the new miracle drug.
Posted by Alaska Paul">Alaska Paul  2006-03-05 17:01||   2006-03-05 17:01|| Front Page Top

#12 There may be a little clarity, here. Apparently, placebos are, or at least were given to two classes of ordinary patients. Known addicts, who have been trolling for narcotics; and the larger class of the grey area including demanding hypochodriacs, TEETH (Tried Everything Else, Try Homeopathy) patients, and DAJ (Dead Already, Jim) patients who are not in pain, but want a pill anyway.

Anecdotal mentions:

http://tinyurl.com/rug7o

Use of "Obecalp" at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center alleged.

http://tinyurl.com/oj5bd

Nurse inquiring of the use of "Obecalp"
Posted by Anonymoose 2006-03-05 17:18||   2006-03-05 17:18|| Front Page Top

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