Example of "High power distance cultures" in emergency situations

In the case of disaster response organizations, a hierarchical, high power distance culture is depicted in the 2005 Romanian movie" The Death of Mr. Lăzărescu", by director Cristi Puiu. In the movie, a patient is carried by ambulance through the Bucharest night, reaching three hospitals before finally being admitted in the fourth. His only support throughout this journey is the ambulance nurse, who, because of her lowly position in the medical hierarchy, is constantly being verbally abused by doctors refusing to admit Mr. Lăzărescu. When Mioara, the nurse, urges a doctor to treat the patient and tells him she knows he is sick as “We are all medical professionals”, the reply quickly comes “But of different qualifications”.

Note: See source document for full reference.

Cultural Factors: Power relations, Norms/values

Hazards: Natural hazards, Man-made non-intentional hazards or emergency situations, Man-made intentional hazards

Disaster Phases: Recovery, Response, Preparedness, Prevention, All disaster phases

Types of Actors Concerned: National civil protection body, Local authorities, Military