People make sense of their own identities and experiences, including illness, in a narrative context. We see and understand our lives through the stories we tell and hear about ourselves and others. Through the faculty of the imagination, we can stand in the shoes of others to understand different points of view and experiences. Indeed, sometimes ethical failures are failures of imagination. Representing and reading stories of illness can develop the moral imagination of students and providers. Through the study of literature, we can cultivate the capacity to empathize with others and can create ethical possibilities for shared decision-making.
