Medical Interpreter Ethics, Standards, And Protocol 2

Front 1

Rolling of the eyes, shoulder-shrugging or display of shock by the interpreter is allowed only when the subject matter is deserving of such action.

Back 1

False

Front 2

You are the interpreter at the emergency room and an ambulance brings in a patient who is your cousin and doesn't speak English. You should interpret and not disclose the relationship because you are going to perform as a professional and in an unbiased way.

Back 2

False

Front 3

You are working in the ER and a patient comes in who is about to give birth. You recently had a miscarriage and are still traumatized by that experience. You should advise your supervisor of this fact so that you may be replaced as soon as possible.

Back 3

True

Front 4

When the interpreting assignment deals with intimate parts of the body, the ideal setting would be to assign a male interpreter for males and a female interpreter for females because vital information may be omitted by the patient to avoid embarrassment.

Back 4

True

Front 5

The interpreter may engage the patient with outside ventures that the interpreter participates in only if the business/venture would be of profit to the patient.

Back 5

False

Front 6

The interpreter must dress in appropriate attire in accordance with the setting, environment and organizational policies.

Back 6

True

Front 7

A very appreciative patient attempts to give you a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label Scotch that he knows you love so much. You may accept this gift as long as this gift is enjoyed away from the hospital setting.

Back 7

False

Front 8

The interpreter may assist the physician with the physical exam by placing the patient in positions that the doctor requests and may assist the patient in getting on and off of the examination table.

Back 8

False

Front 9

Many physicians are not aware of the best way to work with an interpreter. The interpreter may give the doctor guidelines to follow if the interpreter deems it necessary and reasonable during the triad encounter.

Back 9

True

Front 10

The interpreter is allowed to keep his or her identity concealed because there are many deranged people who might take vengeance on the interpreter for poor treatment.

Back 10

False

Front 11

Bilingual family members are encouraged to act as interpreters so that the medical interpreter may concentrate on those patients who have no one to assist them.

Back 11

False

Front 12

The assistance in scheduling of follow-up appointments is not an interpreter duty. This is strictly a clerical duty and not to be handled by the medical interpreter.

Back 12

False

Front 13

A patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness and you have interpreted at this assignment. You are allowed to comfort and console the patient and show him/her where religious healing may be obtained.

Back 13

False

Front 14

When working in a potentially infectious environment, the interpreter should exercise all precautionary measures to assure the safety and well-being of the interpreter.

Back 14

True

Front 15

Medical interpreting is stress-free, with no dilemmas, conflicts or difficult situations to have to deal with. The interpreter merely interprets the words from one language to another in a machine-like fashion.

Back 15

False

Front 16

For interpreting encounters lasting more than 45 minutes, it is a good idea to have two interpreters alternating so that fatigue does not set in and affect accuracy.

Back 16

True

Front 17

For the protection of the interpreter, the interpreter should audio record every interpreting session that was performed throughout the work-day.

Back 17

False

Front 18

The doctor is being rude and disrespectful towards the patient. You, as the interpreter, should buffer these remarks and interpret these rude comments in a polite and politically correct fashion in order to keep the patient from getting upset.

Back 18

False

Front 19

The interpreter should position him or herself in such a fashion that the provider and patient have direct visual and physical access to each other.

Back 19

True

Front 20

The patient that you are interpreting for suddenly gets several relatives visiting at the same time. The doctor continues to provide sensitive information to the patient. You should continue to interpret so that only the patient hears your interpretation.

Back 20

True

Front 21

The interpreter is allowed to have "side" conversations with either the patient or the provider whenever and as frequently as he or she deems it appropriate.

Back 21

False

Front 22

The female nurse is administering intravenous medication, you are the interpreter and the male patient asks you if you know anything about the nurse because he is attracted to her. You should provide whatever information you have on the female nurse.

Back 22

False

Front 23

Providers, on occasion, consider the interpreter a necessary evil and will downplay the importance of the interpreter during the interpreting encounter.

Back 23

True

Front 24

Interpreters may be asked to perform peripheral duties that they have not been trained for. This includes taking histories and performing clerical work.

Back 24

False

Front 25

When the medical provider speaks too fast or has a very thick accent where you cannot keep up with the speed or cannot understand the provider, you should advise the provider of the problem and find an adequate solution.

Back 25

True

Front 26

When the patient points to his left shoulder and says, "it hurts here", the interpreter should interpret as follows: "it hurts here on my left shoulder."

Back 26

False

Front 27

Not all messages will have an equivalent in the second language. In those instances, the interpreter must find a way to explain the concept, idea or thought.

Back 27

True

Front 28

An Ad Hoc ("for this occasion") interpreter is someone who stands in as an impromptu interpreter and may or may not be a trained interpreter.

Back 28

True

Front 29

Informed consent means that the patient is fully informed in his native language with respect to the benefits and risks involved.

Back 29

True

Front 30

The patient is very grateful to you for your interpreting services. She owns a beauty salon and offers you hair make-over voucher. You should accept it because this is only a temporary condition and not something that will last.

Back 30

False

Front 31

Through interpreting assignments you learn that a patient has AIDS. You are allowed to tell everyone who comes into contact with that patient of that fact.

Back 31

False

Front 32

A patient would like some methamphetamines prescribed because of the tremendous pain that he is having. He offers you $1,000 if you would help him convince the provider to prescribe that drug. You should not accept the money and advsie your supervisor.

Back 32

True

Front 33

A patient that you know very well passes out in the clinic that you are working at. The doctor asks you if you have any medical information that would assist the doctor. You are allowed to provide the doctor all the information you know about.

Back 33

True

Front 34

Law enforcement is not allowed to receive information from you, the interpreter, that you learned during his stay, for the purpose of tracking down a criminal fugitive.

Back 34

False

Front 35

A victim of a shooting dies in the operating room of the hospital. His last words to you were in the foreign language you interpret. His last request was that you provide what he said only to his spouse. You should honor that request.

Back 35

True

Front 36

The patient tells you, in privacy, that he is going to kill himself as soon as he gets home because he doesn't want to continue with the pain and suffering he has been enduring for so many years. You should not tell anyone because he has a right to do as he wishes.

Back 36

False

Front 37

You become aware during the pre-session interview that the patient has had mental health treatments. You may disclose this information to any treating doctor prior to starting the session to make sure that they take the necessary precautions.

Back 37

False

Front 38

Through interpreting assignments you have learned that a patient has had periods of physical attacks on interpreters and providers. The only way to alert other staff and interpreters is through emails so the patient doesn't see you disseminate this information,

Back 38

False

Front 39

When providing a sight translation into the foreign language of a waiver or disclosure, the interpreter must provide a "watered down" version of the translation from English because the patient will not understand it otherwise.

Back 39

False

Front 40

You become aware through your interpreting assignments that a patient is here illegally. As an up-standing and law-abiding citizen, you should report this fact to the proper authorities so that this kind of criminal behavior comes to a stop.

Back 40

False

Front 41

The patient states to you that you are not interpreting correctly and would like to file a grievance. You must placate the patient and tell him that you are a professional and he is in error and that there is no need to get anyone else involved.

Back 41

False

Front 42

A dying patient states that you are the best interpreter-friend she has ever had. She relates that she is going to put you in her will. Since you cannot stop her from this action, you are allowed to accept what will be bequeathed to you.

Back 42

False

Front 43

The minor needs a blood transfusion and is in agreement, but the parent, because of religious beliefs, does not consent. Your religious beliefs are the same as the parent. You should continue to interpret for both parties.

Back 43

False

Front 44

A marketing firm contacts you through email and would like to know of people you know who could profit from a new drug that works wonders. You may provide the information you have on patients because it will be for the patient's own good.

Back 44

False

Front 45

An elderly patient who is no longer lucid, speaks incoherently and voluminously. You, as the interpreter, may provide a synopsis of what is being said in a coherent fashion.

Back 45

False

Front 46

A female patient tells you that you are a very intelligent, caring and loving individual who is a great interpreter and would like to prepare a dinner for you. Since you are a bachelor with no girlfriend and it's only a dinner, you are able to accept the invitation.

Back 46

False

Front 47

As a full-time hospital or clinic medical interpreter, you are not allowed to provide any kind of interpreting service for anyone else at any time for any reason.

Back 47

False

Front 48

You have just finished interpreting for a patient and doctor, the doctor leaves momentarily and members of the family arrive. They all ask you to give them an update on the patient's condition. You should provide to them all that you know.

Back 48

False

Front 49

You are in the habit of taking lots of notes when you interpret and your note-taking is really accurate. You provide your interpretations and interpreting session comes to an end. The patient, concerned about confidentiality, asks you to give him your notes. You may do that because these notes were just going to go in the trash anyway.

Back 49

True

Front 50

You, as the interpreter, are called in because of a multi-car crash. You would be called in to go to the Trauma Room for the hospital.

Back 50

True

Front 51

Interpreters are exempt from wearing clean-room or protective equipment in hospitals because they are there only long enough to interpret and then leave.

Back 51

False

Front 52

A mother and newborn are discharged. The father picks them up and drive off into a blizzard. You leave 30 minutes later and come across them and are stuck in a ditch. You may offer them a ride home because of the dangerous circumstances presented.

Back 52

True

Front 53

The patient shares the same religious beliefs you do. She is uncertain about a certain procedure and asks for your opinion. You, as the interpreter, because you were asked, should give your true and full opinion.

Back 53

False