Page 14 - The Medical Interprete

THE MEDICAL INTERPRETER

One Good Interpreter Can Help Save a Life
Little Lili (name changed) was born with a urinary tract problem. She had had several surgeries... Certain
tests were completed and the doctor’s office felt it was critical to have the child brought in immediately
for a follow-up check up.

The doctor’s office called the home where the son answered the phone. He did not understand...

The doctor’s office called the MAMI office [a nonprofit interpreter service in New York] and asked for
the interpreter to call and to relay the seriousness of the situation. That afternoon the parents brought
the child in and, with interpreter support, were shocked to discover that this was, indeed, a life-and-
death situation. The child was immediately admitted to the hospital where she remained for one week. 5

Children interpreting in healthcare

In addition, children in the United States have been asked to interpret in all kinds of healthcare
settings, including hospitals. Children of all ages and as young as three have interpreted for:
• Their own pediatric appointments.
• Diagnoses of the fatal cancer of a parent.
• Diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections, even including HIV/AIDS, of parents or other
adult family members.
• Appointments for their elders, such as grandparents, who had to remove their clothes in front
of the children.

One boy of 11 was asked to interpret for his own cancer diagnosis. Many children have felt guilt or
shame about having to deliver “bad news,” as if it were their fault. Yet to this day, children are still
asked to interpret in healthcare and other community settings.

Language access laws and advocacy

Another important reason for the rapid
evolution of medical interpreting in
the United States is federal and state
legislation that requires publicly funded
agencies to take reasonable steps to
pre vent discrimination in access to
services. These laws, often referred to
as “language access laws,” are discussed
in detail in Chapter 4.

5 Retrieved from http://mamiinterpreters.org/testimonials/horror-stories-change-name/

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