of a blind or control group can influence the documentation of these types of random effects and the belief in their cause. Therefore people who know they are taking placebos assume that their headaches or other unpleasant symptoms are not due to something they are taking and may not report it. Those who know they are receiving real treatment are more likely to believe causality and are more likely to report it. The “blind” control group helps balance the effects of random timing. Cases of the placebo effect The placebo effect has been observed in numerous studies spanning a wide spectrum of symptoms and diseases: from cancer to baldness, from depression to sexual arousal. One of the first and famous stories about the placebo effect is that of Mr. Wright. In Long Beach, California, in 1957, he was diagnosed with cancer and given only a few days to live. While in the hospital, he learned of a miracle cure called Kerbiozen, which had supposedly been effective in fighting cancer in some cases. Wright begged to be treated with Kerbiozen in a last-ditch effort to save his life. His doctor, Dr. Philip West, granted his request and administered an injection of this drug to Wright. Within a few days, Dr. West was amazed to find that Wright was hanging out and even joking with his nurses. The tumors had dissolved spontaneously. Then, a few months later, Wright read a medical report stating that this drug was actually a "quack remedy" with no real medical value. He suffered a relapse. Dr. West reassured him that the medicine was actually very helpful in the fight against cancer and gave him what Wright said was a super-potent new dosage of the drug. Again the tumors disappeared, although Wright had only to re...... middle of paper ...... hold the patient responsible for the failure and this can alienate and discourage the patient who is still ill. When all other treatment options are exhausted and faith is the only thing that can heal or comfort, this alienation and discouragement could prove disastrous. Relying solely on faith healing and avoiding or delaying conventional treatment for a serious illness like cancer can have serious consequences. Death, disability, or other unpleasant outcomes have occurred when faith healing was chosen over conventional care for serious injury or illness. While competent adults may choose faith healing over conventional treatment, society often becomes concerned when parents make such choices for their children. This concern has created organizations that work to pass laws that protect children from unproven treatments through faith healing.