ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on narrative ethics as a methodology for informing moral judgments through a process that is based on a connection among reasoning with stories and exercising moral imagination and empathy. Narrative medicine brings a useful set of skills, tools, and perspectives to all doctors. Although the basic skills of empathy are included in professional education, unfortunately they are infrequently practiced. Because of the interconnectedness of the skills, educational techniques such as reading literature, telling and listening to stories, and analyzing poetry, other art forms, and stories depicted in movies can be used to stimulate the identification and development of the different narrative skills. Other narrative writing exercises that explore the patient's lived experience, the practitioner–patient relationship, or analyze personal experience and emotions also enhance clinical skills. Reflective writing that is derived from group interviews with one patient is compelling and revealing.
