Does the gender matter of your interpreter?

Glenn said:
Then how would a female OB/GYN patient feel about a male doctor? A doctor does things that are even more invasive than being in the same room as an interpreter would be.
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How about a male patient with young female doctor checking the prostate or doing some other invasive procedure (hemorrhoids, anyone?)? ;)

None of it is fun.
 
Thanks for all the answers! Good information to consider.

Do you prefer your interpreter to match your tone? (Interpreters should)
Ex. a powerful business man (Deaf) with a female interpreter
The man has a specific sign choice (straight forward or active 'voice') and the female interpreter (typically passive voice). Does she match her client?

Has this happened during you experiences with interpreters? Has an interpreter not matched your tone? Does this upset you?
 
I'm female.

For me I am not bothered if my interpreters are male or female.

Only time I can think it probably will matter is at doctor appointment for private things, general things like cold, cough, sick, etc doesn't matter if male or female interpreter.

I never had interpreter at doctor appointment because they always refused me one and I rare rarely go doctors.
 
Speedy Hawk said:
I'm female.

For me I am not bothered if my interpreters are male or female.

Only time I can think it probably will matter is at doctor appointment for private things, general things like cold, cough, sick, etc doesn't matter if male or female interpreter.

I never had interpreter at doctor appointment because they always refused me one and I rare rarely go doctors.
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i thought under the Hippocratic oath they have to offer medical to any person(s) who require it, your telling me that they do not have any accommodations for you?
 
I had a doctor's appt. this a.m. Because of reading in this thread, I asked him if his office ever worked with deaf patients who used interpreters, and he said "umm....well, we have a couple times. We don't like to do it because they cost so much that it costs us more than we earn from the patient."

Wow. Give him credit for honesty, I guess.

I can see how that would be a big problem if most doctors felt like that. For what he charges, I'd think he'd have enough to pay for the very occasional use of special services like that.
 
Beach girl said:
I had a doctor's appt. this a.m. Because of reading in this thread, I asked him if his office ever worked with deaf patients who used interpreters, and he said "umm....well, we have a couple times. We don't like to do it because they cost so much that it costs us more than we earn from the patient."

Wow. Give him credit for honesty, I guess.

I can see how that would be a big problem if most doctors felt like that. For what he charges, I'd think he'd have enough to pay for the very occasional use of special services like that.
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im honestly surprised he gave you an honest answer...at least..
 
Glenn said:
Then how would a female OB/GYN patient feel about a male doctor? A doctor does things that are even more invasive than being in the same room as an interpreter would be.
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Well - I have to say, my OB/GYN who I saw and did my 2 c-sections was male. I personally don't care whether I have a male or female interpreter. I have heard from some of the people in my deaf club, that they would all choose someone of the same sex for all medical or personal nature appointments because they have had cases where the terp was too embarrassed during the pelvic exams or vice-versa.
 
Beach girl said:
I had a doctor's appt. this a.m. Because of reading in this thread, I asked him if his office ever worked with deaf patients who used interpreters, and he said "umm....well, we have a couple times. We don't like to do it because they cost so much that it costs us more than we earn from the patient."

Wow. Give him credit for honesty, I guess.

I can see how that would be a big problem if most doctors felt like that. For what he charges, I'd think he'd have enough to pay for the very occasional use of special services like that.
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My doctor had the same answer, so his medical group requires that all of their staff go for ASL training. In my doctor's office, there are 3 nurses that all are quite proficient in ASL.
 
KristinaB said:
My doctor had the same answer, so his medical group requires that all of their staff go for ASL training. In my doctor's office, there are 3 nurses that all are quite proficient in ASL.
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I'd be a little leery of that arrangement. ASL training? How can patients be assured of competency? Medical procedures can be very complicated and patients need to be informed. It's not a place for having iffy communication.
 
Interesting. I'm sure my doc would say his staff just doesn't possibly have time for that.

How long does it take for a dedicated student who is also working a full-time job to get to a minimal professional fluency level in ASL?

Re gender, I've had both male and female ob/gyns. The best two of them were males. I got very annoyed at the female ob/gyn when I was in her office and we were discussing my issue (fibroids) and I didn't understand (didn't hear clearly) something she said. I asked a question about it to clarify and she sniffed at me "You're not listening. Now listen carefully, I said...."

Obviously I did not go to her for the surgery. Twit.
 
Glenn said:
I'd be a little leery of that arrangement. ASL training? How are patients be assured of competency? Medical procedures can be very complicated and patients need to be informed. It's not a place for having iffy communication.
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Learning proficiency in a language for personal use is not the same as interpreter training. There are some people who are fluent in a second language but they can't interpret. Also, don't these signing nurses have other duties? What if they're "busy" and not always available to interpret? Or, suppose they quit that office? Will the doctor send more nurses for ASL training?
 
KristinaB said:
My doctor had the same answer, so his medical group requires that all of their staff go for ASL training. In my doctor's office, there are 3 nurses that all are quite proficient in ASL.
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How much training did they get? For how long?

All the staff went for ASL training?
 
As far as I know, they each took time to go to a local college for classes. I do not know how long. The nurses are each assigned to a room so there are plenty of them there. But, seeing as my doctor only has now 4 deaf or HOH patients he really hasn't run into a problem. He will pay if a patient would prefer to have a certified interpreter there. Most times, he will introduce the patient to the nurse and ask if they feel comfortable with the nurse doing the interpreting. Only the nurses will go to the training and their salary is increased if they go and pass the course.

For me, as I don't know enough ASL yet, I told him not to worry. I usually have my daughter with me to take notes. I accompany my husband as he has memory problems and I will open the video portion of my netbook and record the voice of the doctor but keep the camera either facing the doctor or a wall. Then son will take the recording and type out the notes. I may start doing that at my appointments as well.
 
Reba said:
Learning proficiency in a language for personal use is not the same as interpreter training. There are some people who are fluent in a second language but they can't interpret. Also, don't these signing nurses have other duties? What if they're "busy" and not always available to interpret? Or, suppose they quit that office? Will the doctor send more nurses for ASL training?
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I realize that interpreter training is different and much more comprehensive than ASL for personal communication.
 
Beach girl said:
Interesting. I'm sure my doc would say his staff just doesn't possibly have time for that.

How long does it take for a dedicated student who is also working a full-time job to get to a minimal professional fluency level in ASL?

Re gender, I've had both male and female ob/gyns. The best two of them were males. I got very annoyed at the female ob/gyn when I was in her office and we were discussing my issue (fibroids) and I didn't understand (didn't hear clearly) something she said. I asked a question about it to clarify and she sniffed at me "You're not listening. Now listen carefully, I said...."

Obviously I did not go to her for the surgery. Twit.
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I thought in order to even be able to interpret on that level you needed to pass many high level tests and have a degree.
 
Glenn said:
I realize that interpreter training is different and much more comprehensive than ASL for personal communication.
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I figured you did. I was just elaborating on my statement for the general readership.
 
Don't use terps much myself.

For general appointments, either gender is fine.

For private medical appointments, I'd ask for a female

I'm more particular about terp's level of training than gender preference.
 
For gynecological-related appointments I prefer female interpreters only. For other appointments I don't really care. I had a male interpreter when I had my liver biopsy and he was one of the most professional interpreters I have ever seen and I felt really comfortable with him. He was excellent!
 
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