The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| Nearly all British doctors have given placebos Posted: 22 Mar 2013 05:49 AM PDT  Placebos were given to 'induce psychological treatment effects' because patients pushed for treatment or to reassure them, doctors told researchers. - AFP pic LONDON, March 22 — Some 97 per cent of British family doctors admit giving patients placebos, and more than three-quarters say they prescribe them at least once a week, a survey released yesterday found. Researchers at the English universities of Oxford and Southampton found that the vast majority of general practitioners (GPs) had used "impure" placebos, or unproven treatments. These include low doses of effective medicines, antibiotics for suspected viral infections, or nutritional supplements not shown to help a particular condition. Some 12 per cent of doctors had used "pure" placebos, such as sugar pills or saline solutions, which contain no active ingredients at all, according to responses from a representative sample of 783 doctors surveyed online. Administering placebos in general practice contradicts ethical guidelines set out by the General Medical Council, Britain's regulator for doctors. Placebos were given to "induce psychological treatment effects" because patients pushed for treatment or to reassure them, the doctors told researchers, while the study added that levels were similar to that found in other countries. But more than 90 per cent of doctors objected to placebo use where it could endanger trust between patient and doctor, while more than 80 per cent said they opposed it where deception was involved. "This is not about doctors deceiving patients," said Jeremy Howick, co-lead author of the study. "The study shows that placebo use is widespread in the UK, and doctors clearly believe that placebos can help patients." Placebo use outside clinical trials—where they are used for comparison purposes to test the effectiveness of a treatment, and where patients give informed consent—is generally considered unethical. A 2008 US survey focusing on rheumatologists and internal medicine practitioners found that about half used placebos, in contravention of guidelines. The British Medical Association, the professional body for doctors, said it opposed such use. "The BMA believes there are fundamental problems associated with doctors prescribing placebos. And in our view the unacknowledged use of placebos for patients with capacity is unethical," a spokesman said. "Prescribing and administering a placebo must entail some degree of patient deception because to maximise the placebo effect, a patient needs to believe that the 'dummy' treatment administered is real. "Deceiving a patient, even where the doctor is acting in his or her best interests, obviously undermines trust and risks damaging the doctor-patient relationship." But Howick, of Oxford University, said ethical guidelines should be revisted in light of "strong evidence suggesting that doctors broadly support their use". Some 66 per cent of respondents to the survey said that pure placebos were ethically acceptable under some circumstances, but 33 per cent said they were never acceptable. Impure placebos, which can also include unnecessary physical examinations or blood tests, were deemed acceptable by 84 per cent of doctors, according to the research published in open access journal PLOS One. – AFP-Relaxnews |
| Mulberry warning fuels fears of drop in tourist spending Posted: 22 Mar 2013 04:53 AM PDT
Danish luxury stereo and television maker Bang & Olufsen also cut its revenue outlook on Friday, adding to jitters in the sector. Shares in Britain's largest luxury brand Burberry, which like Mulberry relies heavily on tourists in its London stores, dropped as much as 5 per cent, among the biggest declines by a European blue-chip company. At 10.30am, Mulberry shares were down 17 per cent and Bang & Olufsen's off 12 per cent. Luxury brands have largely coped with an ailing European economy thanks to strong demand from Chinese buyers, both in their home market and when travelling abroad, although there have been periodic signs of weakness in recent months. Mulberry, which sells Bayswater handbags for around £1,400 (RM6,500) and mint green cotton tweed coats for 1,750 pounds, also issued a profit warning in October, blaming a slowdown in Asian demand. The group said on Friday pretax profit for the year ending March 31 was likely to drop 28 per cent to 26 million pounds, on revenue of 165 million pounds. That compared with analyst forecasts for pretax profit of 31.2 million pounds and revenue of 177.4 million, according to Reuters data. Mulberry said retail sales over the Christmas period were generally in line with expectations but deteriorated over the last 10 weeks, including a drop in tourist spending at London stores. The firm trades from 11 stores in the capital as well as five outlets at airport terminals, and had been enjoying robust demand from visitors from Russia and Nigeria, as well as Asia. Burberry, which has six London stores, declined to comment. According to Britain's Office for National Statistics, visits to the country by overseas residents fell by 1 per cent in January, following two strong months in November and December. CUTTING FORECASTS Other luxury brands have also seen a slowdown in London trade as a result of fewer tourists. "It's (shopper numbers) about 30 per cent less than last year, some days 60 per cent," said Paulina Rajnert, an administrative manager at Miu Miu's New Bond Street store, noting most of the reduction was due to fewer tourists. Mulberry has recently been subject to takeover speculation. Earlier this month French luxury group Hermes denied a press report that is was mulling a bid. Mulberry said retail like-for-like growth for the year was likely to be about 6 per cent, while wholesale sales were expected to be down 15 per cent. The wholesale drop reflected a previously flagged move to limit the amount of stock going into lower quality wholesale accounts with the aim of growing the Mulberry brand's value in the longer term, as well as lower than expected in-season ordering. The firm said the order book for autumn/winter 2013 was, however, building satisfactorily. Analysts at Barclays cut their profit forecast for 2012-13 to the company guidance and their forecast for 2013-14 to £30 million from £39.8 million. Separately today, French group PPR unveiled plans to rename itself "Kering" as part of its transformation from a retail conglomerate to a luxury and sporting goods group. – Reuters |
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