Dose-dense paclitaxel for advanced ovarian cancer.

280 www.thelancet.com Vol 375 January 23, 2010 pathic remedy, which is only vigorously shaken water, costs €175 per L) whereas the vast majority of primary care trusts in the UK have cut funding. In 2007, the French medicine agency (Afssaps) issued a national offi cial warning to pharmacists and doctors after a mix-up in the labelling of two homoeopathic remedies by the company. However, the preparations only diff ered in terms of the vial’s label! Placebos lack objective clinical eff ects: if you secretly slip a placebo into a person’s drink, it doesn’t work. Placebos are marketed by moneyhungry quacks, they strengthen medical arrogance and infantilise patients. This has a name: disease mongering. Neither drug-regulatory authorities, nor scientifi c committees, must support this prolonged mess.