Doctors routinely prescribe "placebos".

From my understanding a placebo is an inert substance that should have no effect on the body,but it does because the patient believes it will help.What is being described in the article is using drugs-off label-I think it is called, to help a symptom that the med is not approved for,for example I take Lisinopril for high blood pressure but it also resolved my migrane headaches,the same as some folk get relief with Inderal which is a heart med.Many so called side effects of medication give relief for other symptons another example is taking Gravol or Benydryl to help with insommnia,that's not what these drugs are approved for but the side effects help with other problems.
I believe docs are too quick to prescribe but many times that is what the patients want.

I'm not sure of the law in the US but here in Canada I believe a patient has to be informed about placebo usage.The only time I gave a placebo as a nurse was when a patient was on Demerol and a placebo and he had to agree to this but I don't think we told him when the actual shot of demerol was given.
As for giving an antibiotc for a cold etc.that I lay totally at the doctors feet...it should not happen no matter how much the patient asks.