Fatigue is a non-specific symptom and is not necessarily chronic (fatigue is only classed as chronic after 4 months -- according to the article you linked).
Nobody was laughing about it or mocking: we were discussing medical ethics quite seriously, and the medical value of placebo.
As I understood, the GP only applied this to situations where by-the-book they would have to send people away unmedicated and dissatisfied.
Although you might reasonably disagree with their methods, the GP felt quite strongly about it: believing that showing care in such a simple, non-harmful way early led to fewer chronic cases.
Nobody was laughing about it or mocking: we were discussing medical ethics quite seriously, and the medical value of placebo.
As I understood, the GP only applied this to situations where by-the-book they would have to send people away unmedicated and dissatisfied.
Although you might reasonably disagree with their methods, the GP felt quite strongly about it: believing that showing care in such a simple, non-harmful way early led to fewer chronic cases.