Hello everyone,
I am very excited that I discovered this website. It seems very friendly and a great place to learn more about Deaf culture! (I'm hearing but doing my best to learn ASL.)
I have a question I would to ask. For a bit of background, I am currently in Pharmacy school, and will be a licensed pharmacist in three years. It's a lot of work, and I'm trying to keep up with my signing. I go to Deaf Coffees in my area when I have the time.
I met a hearing interpreter a while ago and he told me that I should never use ASL while working in a pharmacy. He said it would be illegal because I'm not a licensed ASL interpreter, and that I could kill somebody if I gave them the wrong medical information. As you can imagine, this really upset me, because I love the language and would like to be able to sign at work if I had a Deaf patient.
What do you think?
1. Does anyone know if it is illegal for me, as a licensed pharmacist but unlicensed interpreter, to attempt to sign to a patient/customer?
2. If you needed to get a prescription from a pharmacy, would you personally like it if the pharmacist attempted to communicate using sign language, or would you see it as a risk/annoyance? (Medicine instructions are also written on bottles, if there was misunderstanding.)
3. Although it's unlikely others nearby would know ASL, would you be concerned about privacy if I signed medical information where others could "eavesdrop?"
4. Is it common to bring an interpreter with you to a pharmacy? I've never seen a Deaf person do this, but I'm just curious.
5. Please feel free to give me any advice or share any stories about what it is like to go to a pharmacy or to the doctor as a Deaf or HOH person. I want to do the right thing and would like to combine my work as a pharmacist with my love of sign language, but ONLY IF it is in the best interest of the patient.
I only numbered the above questions for convenience, you don't need to respond to all. I will be grateful for any response as I am very puzzled about this.
for your help!
I am very excited that I discovered this website. It seems very friendly and a great place to learn more about Deaf culture! (I'm hearing but doing my best to learn ASL.)
I have a question I would to ask. For a bit of background, I am currently in Pharmacy school, and will be a licensed pharmacist in three years. It's a lot of work, and I'm trying to keep up with my signing. I go to Deaf Coffees in my area when I have the time.
I met a hearing interpreter a while ago and he told me that I should never use ASL while working in a pharmacy. He said it would be illegal because I'm not a licensed ASL interpreter, and that I could kill somebody if I gave them the wrong medical information. As you can imagine, this really upset me, because I love the language and would like to be able to sign at work if I had a Deaf patient.
What do you think?
1. Does anyone know if it is illegal for me, as a licensed pharmacist but unlicensed interpreter, to attempt to sign to a patient/customer?
2. If you needed to get a prescription from a pharmacy, would you personally like it if the pharmacist attempted to communicate using sign language, or would you see it as a risk/annoyance? (Medicine instructions are also written on bottles, if there was misunderstanding.)
3. Although it's unlikely others nearby would know ASL, would you be concerned about privacy if I signed medical information where others could "eavesdrop?"
4. Is it common to bring an interpreter with you to a pharmacy? I've never seen a Deaf person do this, but I'm just curious.
5. Please feel free to give me any advice or share any stories about what it is like to go to a pharmacy or to the doctor as a Deaf or HOH person. I want to do the right thing and would like to combine my work as a pharmacist with my love of sign language, but ONLY IF it is in the best interest of the patient.
I only numbered the above questions for convenience, you don't need to respond to all. I will be grateful for any response as I am very puzzled about this.
for your help!