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.

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November 2003

	The Yellow Baby A young, uninsured patient falls through the cracks of our medical system. Fitzhugh Mullan, November 1, 2003 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	At The End Of A Day A young doctor considers an end-of-life decision and the love that informs it. Alok Khorana, November 1, 2003 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

September 2003

	Learning Genetics Finding sparse, uncoordinated research on their children's rare disease, a couple starts their own organization to jumpstart hopes for the future. Sharon F. Terry, September 1, 2003 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	DNAbling Parents Genetics technology brings both hope and excruciating personal decisions to patients who use it. Lisa Sweetingham, September 1, 2003 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

July 2003

	Maria An unexpected meeting between a doctor and a girl with AIDS bears fruit for HIV prevention efforts. Mahlon Johnson, July 1, 2003 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Kidneys And The Kindness Of Strangers A medical ethicist changes his mind about altruistic donors. David Steinberg, July 1, 2003 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

May 2003

	On Being A Grantmaker A foundation head sustains others' work while nourishing his own. Michael Lerner, May 1, 2003 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	From The Talk To The Walk A health care foundation executive struggles with moving from the abstract world of health policy to the real world of mental illness. Roger Hughes, May 1, 2003 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

March 2003

	My Mother And The Medical Care Ad-Hoc-Racy The former head of Kaiser Permanente finds that the health care system doesn't work as well as it could, for his mother or anyone else. David M. Lawrence, March 1, 2003 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

January 2003

	Where’s David? Saving neglected and abused children is possible when health care providers initiate a few simple steps. Janette H. Kurie, January 1, 2003 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]