What’s the Point of Praying for a Sick Person to Be Healed?

Question by Spirit Of Schiavo [9/11]: What’s the point of praying for a sick person to be healed?
When someone i knew got cancer, practically every christian person who found out said “i’ll be praying for their recovery” but i don’t see the point of it. Does that mean if they didn’t pray, then god would just let my friend die of cancer?
In other words, if praying for someone to be healed is what heals that person (which i’ve heard countless claims of), then that must mean if that person hadn’t been prayed for, god would have let them die.
However, if that person would have been healed by god regardless of the prayer, what’s the point of even asking god to do something it’s going to do anyways?

(ps. i know it’s a small logical question in the realm of a staggeringly illogical text but it’s something no one has been able to explain to me without immediate contradictions)
All i’m getting out of these responses is that there’s really no reason to pray because god is just going to do whatever he wants.

And apparently, god wants millions of people to die horrible, agonizing deaths.

Best answer:

Answer by Mom
There isn’t one. It’s been experimentally proven

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/40765.php

Answer by Milly
Medicine Surley might heal.
not wishful thinking.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Dick B. AA History & Christian Recovery: Special Conference Announcement – Dick B. announces the North American Summit Conference Meeting #2 of the International Christian Recovery Coalition on Saturday, September 24, 2011, at the Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, California