The advantage of the [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375709274/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1W4C74D82TZJJ4JJYGGM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846"]ASL Medical Dictionary[/ame] I mentioned previously is that it provides clear ASL phrases for various medical conditions etc commonly used in the ASL community. (which, most of the time is better than making up your own descriptions which may or may not be similar to what the ASL/Deaf community knows/uses).
Many technical medical terms are fingerspelled (then explained in ASL) - instead of having a specific sign, but there are also accepted ways of explaining many conditions in ASL and knowing how the Hoh/Deaf ASL community tends to sign specific medical conditions is VERY helpful for both parties (the Hoh/Deaf person as well as the hearing signer).
It's also important to remember that the interpreters job is to INTERPRET (not education), it's the
Doctors' (RN, LPN etc) job to explain the medical condition to the Hoh/Deaf/SI individual - through the interpreter and the Hoh/Deaf/SI individual's job to ask the doctor/RN/LPN etc for clarification, explanations etc. regarding what something means - through the interpreter.
(I'd be fairly ticked off if my interpreters took it on themselves to "explain" a medical condition based on THEIR knowledge instead of asking the doctor to very briefly explain the condition (aka "Hyperglycemia, means high blood sugar") then sign what the doctor said and (as an aside such as "KNOW KNOW Q??") ask if I (the Hoh/Deaf person) wanted the dr to explain further what the word/condition meant or acknowledge that I understood the term.
The Elaine Costello series of dictionaries is very helpful - and a "standard" reference series which many of us have (at least a few of) in our homes
The series includes:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Websters-Unabridged-American-Language-Dictionary/dp/0375426167/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_6"]Random House Webster's Unabridged American Sign Language Dictionary[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375709274/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1W4C74D82TZJJ4JJYGGM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846"]Random House Webster's American Sign Language Medical Dictionary[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Random-Websters-American-Language-Dictionary/dp/0375719431/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294101661&sr=1-8"]Random House Webster's American Sign Language Legal Dictionary[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Websters-American-Language-Computer-Dictionary/dp/0756786908/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_10"]Random House Webster's American Sign Language Computer Dictionary[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Religious-Signing-Comprehensive-Guide-Faiths/dp/0553386190/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1"]Religious Signing: A Comprehensive Guide for All Faiths[/ame]
Hope that helps!