Voices Unheard: From Conflict to Communication

Description

Olivia, a 17-year-old pregnant patient, arrives at Sunnybrook Hospital experiencing severe pain, bleeding, swelling, and anxiety due to previous pregnancy complications. Although Olivia repeatedly expresses that something feels wrong, conflict emerges among the interdisciplinary healthcare team as different professionals prioritize different concerns. The nurse, lab technician, and discharge planning social work focus primarily on clinical test results and hospital capacity to assess Olivia’s condition and determine whether she is fit for discharge. On the other hand, the midwife, child and youth care worker, family team and perinatal social workers emphasize Olivia’s emotional wellbeing, lived experiences, and the importance of patient-centered care in understanding her overall needs. As communication breaks down, team members begin to disagree about whether Olivia should be discharged or not, leading to inconsistent messaging and increased stress for the patient. Olivia begins to feel unheard, dismissed, and unsupported, eventually filing a complaint about the team’s poor communication and concerns about bias in her care. The conflict is resolved with a facilitated team discussion focused on reflection, interdisciplinary collaboration, and creating a coordinated care plan that places Olivia’s voice and needs at the centre of decision-making.