The use of formal interpreter services (telephonic or live) is relatively low compared to the use of ad hoc interpreters (family members or other untrained individuals) (Green & Nze, p. 264). Use of ad hoc interpreters can be risky due to translation errors and the possibility of not knowing how to translate medical/professional jargon. Inappropriate uses of ad hoc interpreters include (Squires, 2018, p. 1):
Translation apps on providers, professionals, or patients smartphone
Family members, especially children younger than 18
Scenario:
Seventeen-year-old Ramon was taken to the ER by ambulance in a coma. He was met in the hospital by his mother a first-generation immigrant from Costa Rica and 16-year-old- sister, Lucia. Lucia found her brother on the floor of the bathroom unconscious. She called 911 and had difficulty describing the situation because she was in shock. The 911 operator tried to get her to perform CPR, but she was too traumatized to make an impact. Once the EMTs got to the home he was resuscitated but remained unconscious. At the hospital, the ER physician did not speak Spanish. The doctor assumed Ramon was suffering from a drug overdose. His mother said, in broken English, he is intoxicado. In Cuban Spanish, intoxicado means poisoned. When the ER physician told the family he would treat Ramon for an overdose, they were upset. In Spanish, his mother said, Thats impossible. He would never take drugs. He is an all-star baseball athlete! He is opposed to drugs and drinking. Th
e doctor asked Lucia to translate. She translated what the mother was saying, but the ER staff did not think she knew what she was talking about, and the situation became intense. Lucia began to shout, became verbally abusive towards the staff, and was removed because of her behavior. Neither the doctor nor the mother (his legal guardian) asked for a professional interpreter.
Explain how the issues/problems seen in Ramons case are examples of inappropriate uses of an interpreter.
Evaluate any alternatives the doctor could have used to help him understand the familys concerns besides relying on the younger sister to translate.
Outline a plan that hospitals and/or other medical facilities could use to ensure families are aware of their options when it comes to things like interpreters and language access services. Describe what smaller facilities might be able to do to ensure they are best serving clients and patients from a wide variety of linguistic backgrounds.
Helpful hint: You can use the references below to help support your opinions.
Reference
Green, A. R., & Nze, C. (2017). Language-based inequity in health care: Who is the Poor historian?AMA Journal of Ethics, 19(3), 263-271 [PDF]. https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/sites/journalofethics.ama-assn.org/files/2018-05/medu1-1703.pdf
Squires, A. (2018). Strategies for overcoming language barriers in healthcare.Nursing Management, 49(4),1 -1. https://journals.lww.com/nursingmanagement/Fulltext/2018/04000/Strategies_for_overcoming_language_barriers_in.7.aspx