Team 4: A Covid-19 Conflict - Masks and Healthcare

Description

An Indigenous woman faces multiple barriers while seeking treatment for her autistic and disabled son, who is feeling ill. Miscommunication and a difference in underlying interests cause a conflict between the woman, a nurse, and a hospital security guard. Rising emotions and a lack of dialogue cause the situation to escalate. A hospital case manager intervenes as the mediator to de-escalate the situation and facilitate a resolution to the conflict. Implementing a conflict management approach, she speaks to both groups individually. She uses her position of authority and power to impose a solution as a decision-maker that upholds the hospital policy. This movie raises issues of inequality as inadequate urban planning has resulted in the Indigenous family not having access to quality medical facilities near their low-income housing community. The hospital's failure to adhere to accessibility standards while under renovation discriminates against people with disabilities. Additionally, the hospital guard is prejudiced toward Indigenous people, as they are overrepresented and racially profiled within the criminal justice system. Issues of mental health and psychological distress are apparent as the characters struggle to communicate their feelings and emotions but are restricted due to conflicting perspectives and priorities. The importance of understanding historical biases and different cultural associations is highlighted throughout the role of the hospital case manager.