Kaitin

I emailed my dad some replies in the thread. He said a copy in the medical records for each doctor is a great idea. Good point, Reba!

He said also to send the letter a few days before the appointment and bring a copy to the appointment also. If you send before the appointment, he suggested the change:

From (old): Thank you for agreeing to see me today to discuss my medical concerns. In order to have an effective conversation and meaningful patient-doctor relationship, I need to inform you that I am deaf.

To (new): Thank you for agreeing to see me on __________* to discuss my medical concerns. In order to have an effective conversation and meaningful patient-doctor relationship, I need to inform you that I am deaf.

________* Put the appointment date on the line. Then mail before the appointment so the doctor can have interpreter at the visit. Bring a copy to the appointment in case the doctor didn't get the mail copy.

Deafness

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

Reba

Good suggestions!

Oddball

It is Lucia's choice of using an interpreter for her medical appointment which it is very important to her than just a pen and pad method. What if she can not write the pad herself and prefers to use sign language? Think about it.

Personally, for me, I rather use an interpreter because doctors tend to throw the complex medical terminology at my face. Do you think you understand the medical terminology via pen and pad? I highly don't think so. Sorry.

DURAY

Everytime I got to the doctors, they write all things for me. So I can look up the words and learn myself. With interpreters, there is no privacy. Once at a party in Greenbelt many, many years ago at Countrside apt. or Seabrook apt, an interpreter told al the deaf there that this guy is HIV+ into AIDS........

SxyPorkie

Lucia... I went through in same situation two yrs ago...I called my HMO.. and demanded that i have a right to have an interpreter... they did not know about ADA laws... so they called doctor.. ordered him to pay an interpreter.. it worked...

__________________
Life Goes On!!

Calphool

Wow, that really surprises me. Doctors should know the law better than that. I'm amazed. You should print this form, and go back into the doctor's office. Put the paper on the desk in front of the doctor, and ask him/her to fill out the section titled "Who do you think discriminated against you?" Tell the doctor that you want to make sure you get his name spelled right. I assure you, you will be treated completely differently.

People discriminate for two reasons. 1) They're mean/stupid and they think you do not know your rights, or 2) They're ignorant of the law. Once you show them that you know your rights, or that they don't know the law, they become scared very quickly, and they usually do what they should do in the first place.

spainmale

that's good to hear that. to my surprise that happen same thing to me. i went to dr office and they refused to see me and i said why? you and i can communicate by writing but they said NO! I almost speechless. I firm stand up and ask the desk and you know about ADA and they said No. well I was going to call deaf law about you. They told me to find someone instead of me. I said okay. i certainly went to see deaf law about situation. The attorney was angry and they said they took care of it. few weeks later the attorney said they have many patients and they complained about getting late. I glad that they were very honest but they didnt explain to me the reason. I end up finding a new doctor and they seem kindly and nice.

hoeyhemp

was the presribe for refilling Vicodins ? if thats true thats probably why they dont want refilling your sribes ?

ITPjohn

Reading something like this makes me sick. It's been 17 years since ADA was passed and there are still some folks who want to ignore it.

Can't say that I'm suprised though. About 10 years ago, NAD had their convention in SA and I was working at the downtown Baptist hospital. I mentioned that terps needed to be provided for deaf/hoh patients and was told to sit down and shut up... or else.

meteachterps

This is just pitiful and no excuse!! Definite violation of confidentiality. This type of behavior just IRKS me to the nth degree!!

Also a side note.... as far as the ADA...am I right that if the Dr. office is small and has less than 15 on his staff, do they still have to follow ADA?? I thought that if it was a small practice or business, less than 15 then can get out of following ADA. Am I wrong? Not that I agree with that mind you...but I'm just wondering if that is part of the situation going on with the original poster, or if it's just plain ole stupidity?

__________________
Becky

Kaitin

I think you are right. But I wonder if the doctor was unethical because refused to see her. And maybe unethical if no "reasonable accomodation" like the ADA for better relationship and communication with a deaf/HoH patient.

Health Care Delivery and and Deaf People: Practice, Problems, and Recommendations for Change (Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, Vol 4, 73-110) is a fascinating article I think.

Some quotes from the article: "Recent surveys of practicing physicians have demonstrated an extraordinary level of ignorance about the act (ADA) and the doctor's obligations under this legislation. All of the 165 physicians surveyed at a recent conference "displayed ignorance about their legal obligations under the" act to their deaf clients. -

During their medical education, physicians typically receive training on the pathology of hearing loss and, as a result, tend to medicalize deaf patients in a way that can be interpreted as paternalistic. These perspectives can interfere with the physician's ability to perceive their deaf consumers as healthy and well-adjusted human beings. "Because of their views of Deaf people as 'disabled,' the medical practitioner often deals with them in a condescending manner that betrays their inherent belief that 'deaf and dumb' is not a misnomer." -

During their medical education, few doctors receive training around communication or cultural issues with deaf individuals. Ebert and Heckerling (1995) conducted a survey of 102 internal medicine physicians at one university medical center to examine their understanding of the communication needs of their d/hoh patients. All respondents stated that they needed to spend more time and effort when working with d/hoh patients. Thirty-seven percent believed that writing notes or speechreading offered the best ways to communicate with deaf patients. Forty-one percent of those surveyed said they relied on writing notes for their deaf patients more than half of the time. Only 19% regularly employed an interpreter. Remaining physicians used speechreading, gestures, or asked family members to interpret for the patient. In a survey of 165 doctors, the majority stated they had difficulty communicating with and understanding their deaf clients. Finally, in a survey of 87 deaf people, 60% of whom were prelingually deaf, 59% stated they understood their doctor "sometimes" or "not at all." The patients also noted their health care providers often wrote illegibly or wrote notes that were beyond their literacy level. -

The use of a sign language interpreter is often the only way nonsigning individuals can communicate with deaf people. However, health care providers have historically been resistant to the necessity of employing and using these professional, despite the Disability Act and other laws that mandate use of an interpreter under certain situations."

After reading the thread and article I think all deaf/HoH need to know their rights about health care because maybe your doctor doesn't know or care (my dad is a doctor and I like my doctors so I don't mean all doctors are bad). We must protect our health and get good care and respect from doctors.

Lantana

I would think that the receptionist would be the one chosen to weed people out. We would need to know the whole story before we could offer any advice. How often do you go to the doctor and demand an interpreter??

Share the details.

Lantana

__________________


"The best things in life are not things."

deafskeptic

Look here, we have rights to a terp and just reading this thread is enough to make my blood boil. All you have to do is read the first post so you get details.

Lucia is a human being who has a right to easy communication. Many of us have been there also and I think that receptionist should get her @$$ fired. If we misunderstand the doctor's directions that could have serious effects our health. Some of us have serious medical problems and we have a right to proper communication and treatment.

What is it about you hearies and oralists who think we're less than human?

__________________
Left ear implanted with Med-El on April 24 2007.
Activated on May 9th.

Miss-Delectable

Ahem. Deafskeptic,
Lantana is actually deaf.

__________________

deafskeptic

Oh ok. Some deaf do side with the hearies and the oralists.

__________________
Left ear implanted with Med-El on April 24 2007.
Activated on May 9th.

Angel

Does it matter how often she goes and demand an interpreter? The whole point is she asked for an interpreter when she called to make an appointment, they fail to provide her an interpreter, so instead of her cancel the appointment since she was already there, she used a paper and pen to communicate back and fourth, but the receptionist took it away and torned it up and made her set up another appointment.

Angel

She is?

lilylover72

Luica, I am sorry that you had problem with doctor. I had problem with doctor that I saw because I was so sick. He refuse write a note that I asked. He wanted my son to sign but he was only 8 years old. I told dr to not make my son to sign because he cannot help us. Dr kept speak that I could not understand. I said WRITE! he finally wrote. I didn't like him. I report and against him through headquater office. A lady said she was very sorry that dr treated me bad. She gave me money back. I told her that I will never want see him again. Sigh

Kaitin

Sorry you had problem with the doctor but good job with the money back and reporting! Maybe the doctor is better with the next patient because of your work.

Relay_Services

I completely agree that it is outrageous for them to tear up your paper.

When the doctor gets an interpreter, is he paying for it? If so, isn't it reasonable for one not to want to pay for an interpreter out of their pocket? They would probably be losing money on the doctor visit. Even if there is a law, someone losing money is going to create conflict.

Why wouldn't using a pen and paper, or even typing on a sidekick be a reasonable method of communication? Of course this was attempted, and they tore it up, but it sounds like most deaf people would not accept this method, and there HAS to be your preferred method, an interpreter. The law says they need to make reasonable accommodations, not whatever is preferred.

I went to a new dentist once. I couldn't understand a single word he was saying. I am convinced he didn't even know English. Is he responsible for hiring a Chinese to English translator?

If an ASL translator is not provided, what is making you so angry? Is it that you feel discriminated against, or is it the fact that they are trying to break that law? If I am unable to understand my doctor because of a language barrier I may be a little frustrated, but I move on and look for another doctor. A doctor is still a business, I understand that they are not obligated to make my life happier, especially at their expense.

What if your doctor provides you an ASL translator, but he only speaks a very little bit of English and you are not able to effectively communicate with him. Even though you have not been able to communicate, did he fulfill his translator requirement?

What happens when someone requests a translator, but they are living in a very remote area, such as Alaska. If there is not one available in the surrounding area, wouldn't it then not be a reasonable accommodation?

Some people say being deaf is a disability, and some say that it is not. Do the people who say it is not a disability still argue that they need a translator to be provided because of the ADA?

I don't mean to offend anyone, please read my signature. I am only trying to gain a greater understanding through debate.

LuciaDisturbed

It wasn't for Vicodin. I was just changing doctors. How dare you accuse me of trying to get Vicodin. Grow up.

__________________


We will assimilate you. Resistance is futile. We will add your distinctiveness to our Collective.


Implanted left ear 10/11/06, activated 10/16/06 - Nucleus Freedom

DeviantArt

LuciaDisturbed

I called the doctor's office two months beforehand and asked for an interpreter and they agreed to provide one. Then when I arrived there, I found out they never got an interpreter. They said they will not provide one. I then offered to write back and forth with pen and paper, as I needed to see the doctor. They refused and was very rude about it.

What else do you want to know, Lantana?

__________________


We will assimilate you. Resistance is futile. We will add your distinctiveness to our Collective.


Implanted left ear 10/11/06, activated 10/16/06 - Nucleus Freedom

DeviantArt

LuciaDisturbed

Actually, the receptionist wouldn't even let me set up a new appointment, she didn't even want to have me at the clinic as an patient at all.

__________________


We will assimilate you. Resistance is futile. We will add your distinctiveness to our Collective.


Implanted left ear 10/11/06, activated 10/16/06 - Nucleus Freedom

DeviantArt