marcyp06
Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2009
- Messages
- 316
- Reaction score
- 0
I received a call from a friend last night asking if I would be comfortable interpreting for a medical appointment.
Me: "No, im not certified. Im not really comfortable in any interpreting situation, definatley not a medical or legal appointment."
Friend: "You've interpreted stuff before, right?"
Me: "Ive done favors for friends who are accustomed to my signing style. Thats is. And who precicely is asking (no offense) a beginning ASL student to interpret for a medical appointment!?"
Friend: "This guy I went to high school with runs an interpreting business and called me and asked if I could do it. Thats all I know."
So, slightly steaming from the ears, I took the persons phone number and called them.
Me: "Hi, I hear you are looking for an interpreter?"
Person: "Oh, the sign language! Yes, awesome! Can you come at 12pm tomorrow?"
Me: "No, I will not be able to do that. Im not certified. I do however have some contacts and I may be able to get you in touch with someone. But before I do that I need a little bit more information, im somewhat confused on the situation."
Person: "Oh, no problem! My husband and I run a Spanish/English interpreting agency and we got a call yesterday from a childrens clinic we contract with needing an ASL interpreter. Ive asked EVERYONE and no one I know can do it. The doctor is coming in from out of town so they cant reschedule. They dont need someone certified."
Me: "Im a bit confused as to why they would call you. Have you ever worked with an ASL interpreter before? There are a few agencies in town so im not sure why they would call you."
Person: "No never had anyone request a signing interpreter before. But like I said you dont have to be certified. The clinic said so. As long as the person can sign, they dont care."
Me: "Right. Getting back to that. First, as you are trying to run a business, I would advise you to NEVER take on a job that you are not 100% positive that you can provide service for. Secondly, NEVER send an interpreter blindly into a medical or legal situation. Im not sure why the clinic is okay with this situation, but you should not be. The problem in this situation is not only can the interpreter be sued, but so can you. On top of that, and really more importantly, what if the information does not get passed along correctly? I have not taken any medical terminology classes, nor do I know medical signs. What if the doctor says something very important and I think ive gotten the point across, and the parents think ive gotten the point across, but really it was the WRONG point? Imagine you are at the doctor with your child for a specialist visit, covering some serious medical matters. Now drop every 4th word the doctor says. Can you still "get the point"? Thats not fair. What if the parents agree to an un-neccesary treatment because I didnt convey the message right? And just to let you know, in order to get a national certification to interperet I need a four year college degree plus I have to pass some very challenging tests. In order to be certified for medical or legal work there are classes on top of all that."
Person: "Well.... the clinic told us that if we dont find an interpreter that the appointment will just go on as planned without one. Plus I dont think its the parents that are deaf I think its the child. So thats gotta make it easier, right?"
Me: "I think you are missing the point. Let me make some calls and I will get back to you."
Two hours and a lot of calls, texts, and emails later we found out that the appointment had been double booked and an ASL terp would already be there.
I am amazed at so many things I ran into. Many people asked me "Why dont you just do it?" Ive never had a formal ASL class before. My signing skills are purely social. And I dont want to put myself or anyone else in a bad situation. Quite a few people got an earful from me last night. *sigh*
Me: "No, im not certified. Im not really comfortable in any interpreting situation, definatley not a medical or legal appointment."
Friend: "You've interpreted stuff before, right?"
Me: "Ive done favors for friends who are accustomed to my signing style. Thats is. And who precicely is asking (no offense) a beginning ASL student to interpret for a medical appointment!?"
Friend: "This guy I went to high school with runs an interpreting business and called me and asked if I could do it. Thats all I know."
So, slightly steaming from the ears, I took the persons phone number and called them.
Me: "Hi, I hear you are looking for an interpreter?"
Person: "Oh, the sign language! Yes, awesome! Can you come at 12pm tomorrow?"
Me: "No, I will not be able to do that. Im not certified. I do however have some contacts and I may be able to get you in touch with someone. But before I do that I need a little bit more information, im somewhat confused on the situation."
Person: "Oh, no problem! My husband and I run a Spanish/English interpreting agency and we got a call yesterday from a childrens clinic we contract with needing an ASL interpreter. Ive asked EVERYONE and no one I know can do it. The doctor is coming in from out of town so they cant reschedule. They dont need someone certified."
Me: "Im a bit confused as to why they would call you. Have you ever worked with an ASL interpreter before? There are a few agencies in town so im not sure why they would call you."
Person: "No never had anyone request a signing interpreter before. But like I said you dont have to be certified. The clinic said so. As long as the person can sign, they dont care."
Me: "Right. Getting back to that. First, as you are trying to run a business, I would advise you to NEVER take on a job that you are not 100% positive that you can provide service for. Secondly, NEVER send an interpreter blindly into a medical or legal situation. Im not sure why the clinic is okay with this situation, but you should not be. The problem in this situation is not only can the interpreter be sued, but so can you. On top of that, and really more importantly, what if the information does not get passed along correctly? I have not taken any medical terminology classes, nor do I know medical signs. What if the doctor says something very important and I think ive gotten the point across, and the parents think ive gotten the point across, but really it was the WRONG point? Imagine you are at the doctor with your child for a specialist visit, covering some serious medical matters. Now drop every 4th word the doctor says. Can you still "get the point"? Thats not fair. What if the parents agree to an un-neccesary treatment because I didnt convey the message right? And just to let you know, in order to get a national certification to interperet I need a four year college degree plus I have to pass some very challenging tests. In order to be certified for medical or legal work there are classes on top of all that."
Person: "Well.... the clinic told us that if we dont find an interpreter that the appointment will just go on as planned without one. Plus I dont think its the parents that are deaf I think its the child. So thats gotta make it easier, right?"
Me: "I think you are missing the point. Let me make some calls and I will get back to you."
Two hours and a lot of calls, texts, and emails later we found out that the appointment had been double booked and an ASL terp would already be there.
I am amazed at so many things I ran into. Many people asked me "Why dont you just do it?" Ive never had a formal ASL class before. My signing skills are purely social. And I dont want to put myself or anyone else in a bad situation. Quite a few people got an earful from me last night. *sigh*
