Are deaf hospital or clinic patients required to have interpreters?

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kahill1918

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I am scheduled to have a simple procedure done as an outpatient. I just received word from the hospital that I must have an interpreter or they won't do the procedure. I do not want an interpreter. I am thoroughly familiar with the procedure and will be under anesthesia anyway.

Is it true that we must accept interpreting services even if we do not want them? What part of the ADA says so?

I know they are required to provide interpreters, but this is not the question I am asking.
 
HI
I never heard of that. I've had many procedures done on an outpatient basis and never "had" to have an interpreter. Maybe they mean someone that could hear and be there for you? Drive you home? I'd ask more and tell them you don't need one.
In our hospital, there is a sign up that says for deaf patients, if an interpreter or other accomodations are needed to let them know. It's good to have that but you shouldn't be forced into having an interpreter.
 
They don't want to give you any opportunity to sue. So go somewhere else if you don't like their rule.
 
What about bringing someone you know and have them interpreter what being said? Will that work?
 
Bottesini may be right.

ADA says we have the right to select communicating methods. So I would think the hospital is violating ADA by forcing me to have an interpreter. I am not that good with ASL anyway and certainly don't need an interpeter to tell me to roll up my sleeve, to open my mouth, take off my glasses, whatever. It is a very routine procedure, one I have gone through several times.
 
Just by saying you don't know ASL well you answered my question... What about those who don't sign. I've never seen that before. I have an appointment with a new primary today for just that reason... I don't want to rely on terps each dr visit (new one signs a little)

Now idk what procedure you're doing but is it perhaps because of patient compliance? Understanding doctors better leads to better compliance... Compliance is a big deal for somewhat elective procedures like CI... Is it also maybe a request from the doctor himself if you're less articulate so he understands you better to help you more efficiently?
 
My last surgery (Oct. 31)...was a hell of one....I was already in the operating room....the intrepretor was not there....2 nurses took turns writing down questions....then my doctor put a form in front of me which I could not read (my glasses were in my room).....that I had to sign.....:hmm:

When the intrepretor finally did arrive...I was very angry and shouted..."you're late!!"...and as he was explaining "why"...I went under....

There are a shortage of intrepretors in Duval County....
 
I would have sat quiet, and then when the interpreter came, I would tell them and the staff that the staff ignored my requests for effective communication. This resulted in an interpreter coming, and I cannot use the interpreter as I do not know ASL, so now the interpreter can go home and get four hours of pay. Plus, the interpreter is there as witness to them denying me effective communication, and they just broke federal law.
 
If they want to hire an interpreter, let them. They pay. You don't need to use the interpreter.

My only caveat would be, make sure they aren't using an interpreter as a substitute for some other mode of communication that you would prefer such as note writing or speech reading transliteration.

As long as your needs are met, let them do whatever makes them happy with hospital policy.

IMO
 
kahill1918 said:
Bottesini may be right.

ADA says we have the right to select communicating methods. So I would think the hospital is violating ADA by forcing me to have an interpreter. I am not that good with ASL anyway and certainly don't need an interpeter to tell me to roll up my sleeve, to open my mouth, take off my glasses, whatever. It is a very routine procedure, one I have gone through several times.
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Get an oral terp.

I had those. Worked well for me except that lipreading hurted my etes.
 
kahill1918, I don't understand why the hospital wanted to have an interpreter to communicate with you. Is it because they don't understand what you say or vice versa? How did you communicate with them? Was there any misunderstandings between you and them? Did you tell them that you don't know sign language very well?
 
Yeah, I don't think they're required if you don't want one.... However are required if you request one. Usually the people that come in to me are in bad bad shape, but I interpret for them since I'm there already. ( Plus the hospital gives me a little bonus pay for it ;) ) However, like Paul said above... the only way I could see them REQUIRING you have a terp would be because they have difficulties understanding you.... that, or they just got sued. :dunno2:
 
CrazyPaul said:
kahill1918, I don't understand why the hospital wanted to have an interpreter to communicate with you. Is it because they don't understand what you say or vice versa? How did you communicate with them? Was there any misunderstandings between you and them? Did you tell them that you don't know sign language very well?
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You bring up a good point that is often overlooked.

Interpreters are not only for the deaf participant--they are for the hearing participants, too.
 
Reba said:
You bring up a good point that is often overlooked.

Interpreters are not only for the deaf participant--they are for the hearing participants, too.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I notice that some hearing people roll their eyes when they find out that I am deaf and can't read lips. They don't like to communicate by writing/reading so they prefer interpreting service as a faster, easier communication method.
 
Going off the topic a little bit-- there's a new place to get food near my home, and since I cannot hear very well, but know sign language quite well, what I do is when I go into this place, I use the menu they provide to tell them what I want, and these people are awesome. For example, I inquired about a bottle of pop (Which cost $1.89, which I didn't have enough for), and I paid $.89 for a can of pop, but to my very great surprise, they generously gave me the bottle of pop. Best place ever to get what I want.
 
CrazyPaul said:
Yeah, I notice that some hearing people roll their eyes when they find out that I am deaf and can't read lips. They don't like to communicate by writing/reading so they prefer interpreting service as a faster, easier communication method.
Click to expand...

CrazyPaul here is correct. The clinic told me it was their policy to get an interpreter for any deaf patient because the doctor does not have the time to write anything. I pointed out to them that not all hearing impaired know sign language. They were surprised and agreed to let me decide whether I needed interpreting services (in new medical situations and not in routine situations such as blood draw).

I had the feeling that they considered deaf patients to be less intelligent and less educated and were counting on the interpreters to know how to "talk down" to them.
 
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