Questions & Answers on Medical Interpreting

As America becomes more diverse with immigrants from around the globe, medical interpreting is key to helping those newcomers with their health care needs. Medical interpreting is a careful and skilled field that requires extremely accurate translations. Naturally, there are many questions surrounding this field with complex answers.

Fluency Qualifications

• One common question, or misperception, about medical interpreting is whether anyone with fluency in a language is capable and qualified to do the work. Nothing could be further from the truth. Medical interpreting requires training, skills and a very good knowledge of medical issues to properly translate the questions and answers in a dialogue between a physician and patient. Auxiliary staff in a hospital or clinic such as janitors or service workers should not be used as interpreters just because they are fluent in the language.

Body Language

• Another common question is whether body language can convey much of the information necessary for medical diagnosis without an interpreter. In fact, this is a poor method of communication and completely inappropriate for transmitting information to doctors. Even if physicians have a basic knowledge of a language, they should not assume they can supplement their knowledge with body language from the patient. This can lead to misdiagnoses and potential harm.

Literal interpretation

• Another question involves whether the interpreter should interpret every phrase and sentence literally to the physician. In fact, the interpreter should ask for clarification and make the interpretation meaningful for the doctor. An interpreter is not a "black box" that spits out exactly what the patient or doctor says in the other's language. Instead, the interpreter is required to communicate a clear and understandable message to convey the patient's ideas.

Standards

• Another questions surrounds the standards that are used to qualify a good interpreter. The standards include three factors, according to the International Medical Interpreters Association: clear and accurate interpretation; the ability to act as a cultural interface for both parties so they understand one another; and ethical behavior. The interpreter must maintain confidentiality about the proceedings of the patient visit. In addition, this individual must faithfully and honestly translate all communication without using personal bias.