Published Paper Details:

This paper explores the intersection of medical humanities and literature in expressing illness. It introduces narrative medicine, which merges scientific expertise with narrative skills to validate patient experiences, particularly in articulating pain. Paul Kalanithi's memoir exemplifies how pain can inhibit communication, supporting Elaine Scarry's assertion that pain can render language ineffective. Silence, whether stemming from suffering or a conscious choice, is discussed as having multiple meanings, with Kalanithi highlighting the need for physicians to actively listen to patients' values. Various narrative techniques are analysed, such as fragmentation, repetition, and metaphor, to convey the chaotic experience of illness. The study emphasizes the ethical duty of clinicians to develop narrative competence and engage with patients' voices, a sentiment echoed by scholars Prabhu and Goldie, who argue that listening is crucial for accurate diagnosis and understanding patient identity. Literature not only expresses suffering but also offers the vocabulary and moral insights necessary for healing, positioning storytelling as essential in making sense of pain.