Retorts

Comforting Hands

Healing hands is unscientific [GIGO, Oct]. But if it makes women feel better or men think it's working, that will assist healing. Psychology does play a part in helping medicines work.

Edward Smith, Napier

Psychology does play a role, true. The question is, should deliberate deception by health practitioners be condoned because it might help us feel better? Most bioethicists I know would argue against that. [Ed]