The Narrative Matters section of Health Affairs publishes personal essays (literary nonfiction) based on firsthand encounters that have a health policy aspect. These "policy narratives" take a story (or anecdote) and grow it beyond one person to include a big-picture view of the subject. The purpose of the Narrative Matters section is to put a human face on the health policy discussions in the other parts of Health Affairs.

Web Alerts/RSS. To be alerted when Health Affairs posts new Narrative Matters essays, sign up for free Narrative Matters e-mail alerts. for new Narrative Matters essay postings is also available.

To see a Narrative Matters essay, click its [PDF] or [Full Text] link.

November 2002

	Getting The Elderly Their Due An HMO executive's firsthand view of poor seniors' helplessness in navigating the U.S. health care labyrinth. David Carliner, November 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	An Unsuspecting American With No Medicare Coverage—Me! The United States is creating coverage gaps faster than it is filling them. Gordon Schiff, November 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

September 2002

	Dolores A young medical resident takes her own life, shining a harsh spotlight on the pressures of the current residency education system. Daniel J. Derksen, September 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

July 2002

	The Rest Is Silence Hospitals and doctors should beware of what can fill the space of their silence after a loved one's death. Michael Rowe, July 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Life But No Limb: The Aftermath Of Medical Error Money helps, but it's not the sole reason that family members sue. Carol Levine, July 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	The Curtain What happens when doctors reach out to bereaved family members. W. Richard Boyte, July 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

May 2002

	Purple Is The Color Of The Future South Africa struggles to save its youth and its future from the onrushing HIV epidemic. Fitzhugh Mullan, May 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	The Butterfly And The Sword: AIDS In China The lid is coming off of China's potentially monumental AIDS problem--but slowly. Kyna Rubin, May 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

March 2002

	No Free Lunch Paul Jung, March 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	A Matter Of Influence Changing times call for changing policies on the presence of drug company reps in residency programs. Howard Brody, March 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Between The Lines: Navigating The Uncharted Territory Of Industry-Sponsored Research A former medical journal editor describes how and why staff changed their policy on disclosing conflicts of interest. Frank Davidoff, March 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	The Benefits And Risks Of A Pack Of M&Ms A pharmaceutical spokesman answers his industry's critics. Bert Spilker, March 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

January 2002

	Leaving Nursing Hospital staffing cuts have created conditions under which this dedicated nurse can no longer work. Ray Bingham, January 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Accountable But Powerless Unable to deliver high-quality care, a nurse calls it quits, but not before blowing the whistle. Barry Adams, January 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Mosaics And Misery Joseph J. Fins, January 1, 2002 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]