Kathy’s story starts with the lived reality and prognosis for a patient-person in a coma on a ventilator machine. She invited everyone involved to describe the situation. Their narratives revealed that family members and the neurologist had very different understandings of the word “okay.” Kathy connected these insights with scientific data to enable the interested parties to come to a common understanding and decide next steps. Kathy draws on this experience when she teaches others the value of narrative medicine. Among other things, it’s a way to clarify what’s at stake and to correct misunderstandings, especially when critical medical decisions must be made.
The Power of Coproduction is a podcast series about redesigning health care services to achieve better health through mutual respect, collaboration, and science-informed practices.