If a patient asks the interpreter what she should do, how should the interpreter respond?

If a patient asks the interpreter what she should do, how should the interpreter respond?

• A. Provide personal medical advice to the patient.
• B. Answer the question in the patient's language without involving the doctor.
• C. Ask the patient to wait while the interpreter consults a nurse.
• D. Interpret the question to the doctor.

Answer: (D)

In medical interpretation, the interpreter’s job is to relay messages accurately and neutrally, not to provide medical advice. When a patient asks what she should do, the interpreter should convey that question to the clinician so the doctor can give appropriate guidance based on the patient’s condition. Giving personal medical advice would violate professional boundaries and could mislead the patient. Translating the question into the patient’s language without involving the doctor bypasses the clinician’s expertise and could lead to unsafe guidance. Asking the patient to wait while consulting a nurse introduces unnecessary delay and falls outside the interpreter’s role in relaying information between patient and clinician. By channeling the patient’s question to the doctor, the clinician can assess the situation and provide proper instructions.

In medical interpretation, the interpreter’s job is to relay messages accurately and neutrally, not to provide medical advice. When a patient asks what she should do, the interpreter should convey that question to the clinician so the doctor can give appropriate guidance based on the patient’s condition.

Giving personal medical advice would violate professional boundaries and could mislead the patient. Translating the question into the patient’s language without involving the doctor bypasses the clinician’s expertise and could lead to unsafe guidance. Asking the patient to wait while consulting a nurse introduces unnecessary delay and falls outside the interpreter’s role in relaying information between patient and clinician. By channeling the patient’s question to the doctor, the clinician can assess the situation and provide proper instructions.