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 2005

	Immigration Pediatrics An inner-city pediatrician finds himself in a medical no-man's land where social policies undermine the care of his newly arrived immigrant patients--and their contributions to society. Fitzhugh Mullan, November 1, 2005 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Blind Faith And Choice A blind British health economist and her guide dog meet the realities of choice in the United States. Rhiannon Tudor Edwards, November 1, 2005 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

September 2005

	Full Code A young physician is confounded by--then learns from--a dying patient's decisions. Boris Veysman, September 1, 2005 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Do NOT Resuscitate A well-orchestrated plan for death ends on a brutal note. David Muller, September 1, 2005 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

July 2005

	What Are We Going To Do With Dad? A geriatrician stands by during his father's downward spiral into old age, disability, and dementia. Jerald Winakur, July 1, 2005 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

May 2005

	You Gotta Draw The Line Somewhere Bending the rules to do right for a turfed patient. Paul Haidet and Georgina Osorio, May 1, 2005 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Luck Of The Dying A nurse witnesses her mother's month-long dying process and ponders its lesson. Veneta Masson, May 1, 2005 [ Listen to the Author ] [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

March 2005

	She Walked From El Salvador Caring for an immigrant nation. Glenn Flores, March 1, 2005 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Concordance How does a physician who is neither black nor white decide when race is a factor? Alok A. Khorana, March 1, 2005 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

January 2005

	Tea, Biscuits, And Health Care Prioritizing An American visiting England observes initiatives to elicit public input on thorny health care allocation decisions. Marthe R. Gold, January 1, 2005 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Here Comes Trouble A nurse practitioner ministers to a mentally retarded patient's needs while questioning the cost to Medicaid. Karen Roberts, January 1, 2005 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]