The Article in Brief
Nasruddin and the Coin
Peter A. de Schweinitz
What This Study Found This essay explores the importance of narrative by connecting an ancient Middle Eastern fable to a contemporary story of healing. When a chronically ill patient does not respond to standard biomedical approaches, a young physician tries broader and deeper interactions with the patient. Ultimately, the patient heals herself by revisiting her past. Her story suggests that the cause of illness may sometimes be found outside the usual biomedical framework .