The value of patient stories

The New York Times Health section had a compelling article today about the value of patient stories and memoirs. Their value may not be in their literary style, many may in fact be lacking literacy polish. The true value of these stories may be the stories themselves. There is therapeutic value to the story, both for the reader and the writer. They inform us of the human condition, the very real emotional pain that goes into illness, and perhaps remind us of the need for empathy toward each other.