Patients Who Need Interpreters SDL | Notion

Interpretation By Relative/Professional

	Adv	Disadv
Relative	Add relevant points that they remember through close Relationship, Help Patient feel more Comfortable, Can translate as Patient will surely understand, Readily Available	Overly emotional, Too invested, Impedes Confidentiality/Privacy with Sensitive Matters, Hiding Information from Patient to avoid Distress, Whether Relative can convey medical concepts/intimate details correctly,
Professional	Formal training in Translation → Correctly executed consultation, May provide services in obscure Languages, Not Overly Invested in patient therefore not liable to become Emotional. Supposed to be readily available (In reality must wait)	Unable to add extra salient points from Understanding of Patient, Patient may Feel Uncomfortable about having additional, Non-Physician involvement,

Clip 1: She thinks it might be bad news

Slows down Pace of Consultation
Doctor now Speaks directly to Interpreter and Ignores Patient

Clip 2: Miss Li

Impersonal
Unemotional Translation even in Sensitive Topics: Good/Bad?
Limited Capability with Strings of Thoughts/Statements to Convey

Using lay Interpreters

Unable to take notes, Must Work from memory
Not Understanding Confidentiality req’s
Fear of Admitting misunderstanding doctor
Less Proficient in Target language than assumed
Bilingual Colleague: Wastes their Time

Working Well with an Interpreter

Check Matching Language & Dialect
Allow time for Pre-Interview Organisation
Allow Time for Interpreter:
- Introduce themselves to Patient
- Explain Confidentiality
- Check Acceptability with Patient
Allow Sufficient Time