From Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein to Clint Eastwood’s film Million Dollar Baby, the public’s perception of bioethical issues has been shaped by the use of stories. Most efforts at bioethical engagement, however, tend to focus on building persuasive arguments rather than presenting a compelling narrative. But by concentrating solely on the technical merits and political ramifications of these issues, we miss the opportunity to connect on a deeper level of understanding. This presentation sets out to examine the ways in which story and metaphor have been used in the past to shape our thinking about bioethics and explores how we might incorporate literary techniques in order to be more effective at ethical suasion.