Santarosalinda is probably talking about something called intercessory prayer. There have been a number of studies done on this over the years. See abstract below for an example:
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Effects of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients with bloodstream infection: randomised controlled trial.
Leibovici L.
Department of Medicine, Beilinson Campus, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tiqva 49100, Israel.
leibovic@post.tau.ac.il
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether remote, retroactive intercessory prayer, said for a group of patients with a bloodstream infection, has an effect on outcomes. DESIGN: Double blind, parallel group, randomised controlled trial of a retroactive intervention. SETTING: University hospital. SUBJECTS: All 3393 adult patients whose bloodstream infection was detected at the hospital in 1990-6. INTERVENTION: In July 2000 patients were randomised to a control group and an intervention group. A remote, retroactive intercessory prayer was said for the well being and full recovery of the intervention group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality in hospital, length of stay in hospital, and duration of fever. RESULTS: Mortality was 28.1% (475/1691) in the intervention group and 30.2% (514/1702) in the control group (P for difference=0.4). Length of stay in hospital and duration of fever were significantly shorter in the intervention group than in the control group (P=0.01 and P=0.04, respectively). CONCLUSION: Remote, retroactive intercessory prayer said for a group is associated with a shorter stay in hospital and shorter duration of fever in patients with a bloodstream infection and should be considered for use in clinical practice.
Publication Types:
Clinical Trial
Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 11751349 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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In general, the thought on intercessory prayer/healing, remote or otherwise, is along the lines of the Scottish verdict: not proven. Interesting, occasionally positive, more often inconclusive or showing no positive effect. In other words, there's no proof it works but doesn't hurt. And it has the salutary effect for the person praying of doing *something* for the ill person.