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 2004

	Acquainted With The Night A father finds sparse institutional support in his quest for appropriate treatment for his mentally ill son. Paul Raeburn, November 1, 2004 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	A Hospital Death Challenging our assumptions about dying. Anne Hunsaker Hawkins, November 1, 2004 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

September 2004

	Endangered Gifts A medical student gets an early introduction to child abuse. Jennifer L. Bau, September 1, 2004 [ Related Papers ] [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	No Tears Witnessing a troubled teenage girl. Jeffrey Brosco, September 1, 2004 [ Related Papers ] [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	A Pediatric Revolution At Home A mother works the system to ensure family-centered care for her son. Polly Arango, September 1, 2004 [ Related Papers ] [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Pizza Ship Language counts. W. Richard Boyte, September 1, 2004 [ Related Papers ] [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Two Poems Judy Schaefer and Mariquita MacManus Mullan, September 1, 2004 [ Related Papers ] [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

July 2004

	Shopping For Long-Term Care A daughter questions market theories after watching her parents make decisions about long-term care. Deborah Stone, July 1, 2004 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Incidental Illness Working outside an academic medical setting shakes up the assumptions of a newly minted doctor. Danielle Ofri, July 1, 2004 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

May 2004

	Attending Death With Dignity A nurse finds herself the center of controversy after effectively managing pain for a dying patient. Sharon La Duke, May 1, 2004 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	So Tired Of Life An elderly patient asks a doctor for help he cannot provide. Neil S. Calman, May 1, 2004 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

March 2004

	No Come Nada Richard S. Garcia, March 1, 2004 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Learning About Medicine And Race A black physician gets an early lesson about the meaning of "noncompliance." David Malebranche, March 1, 2004 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

January 2004

	As Drug Marketing Pays Off, My Mother Pays Up A physician questions the value of a drug that may provide only marginal benefit--and why it was prescribed in the first place. Janet R. Gilsdorf, January 1, 2004 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Giveaway Drugs: Good Intentions, Bad Design A community clinic director is frustrated by well-meaning drug company programs. Buck Taylor, January 1, 2004 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]