Medical Interpreter Ethics, Standards, And Protocol

Front 1

The interpreter's rendition of a message must have the potential for eliciting the same response in the listener as the original message.

Back 1

True

Front 2

The primary duty of an interpreter is to interpret accurately, completely and faithfully.

Back 2

True

Front 3

The interpreter should direct the parties to speak directly to the interpreter and not directly to each other.

Back 3

False

Front 4

The interpreter should introduce him/herself to the provider and patient, the language being interpreted and the role that he/she will play in the encounter.

Back 4

True

Front 5

The interpreter may leave out any derogatory, insulting or racist remarks made by either party in order to assure a smooth and pleasant encounter.

Back 5

False

Front 6

When interpreting at encounters that are of an intimate nature, the interpreter must provide spatial and visual privacy.

Back 6

True

Front 7

On occasions that the speaker utters a very long statement, the interpreter must listen very attentively, take good notes and not ask the speaker for pauses.

Back 7

False

Front 8

In order to maintain control of the communication between the patient and provider, the interpreter must maintain a high profile.

Back 8

False

Front 9

Cultural information sharing in order to clarify some issue during the encounter, is not allowed by the interpreter.

Back 9

False

Front 10

Personal detachment and a neutral state of mind are required to order to effectively and accurately provide an interpretation to all parties at the encounter.

Back 10

True

Front 11

Once the certification exams have been passed, the interpreter does not need to continue studying or learning any more about the profession and its advances.

Back 11

False

Front 12

If the interpreting encounter entails a subject matter that is beyond the interpreter's training and level of experience, the interpreter must disclose this fact and recuse him or herself from this encounter.

Back 12

True

Front 13

The main goal of any interpreting encounter is to protect the health and well-being of the patient and the interpreter may intervene of his own accord when the circumstances deem it necessary and justifiable. (advocacy)

Back 13

True

Front 14

What the interpreter listens to and learns during the interpreting encounter must be kept in strict confidence may not be divulged unless extraordinary circumstances warrant disclosure in order to the protect the patient.

Back 14

True

Front 15

On occasions during the encounter that a party states things that are minor, insignificant and not relevant, the interpreter may leave out those statements.

Back 15

False

Front 16

Euphemisms are allowed and encouraged when offensive and vulgar language is utilized by any of the parties in the encounter.

Back 16

False

Front 17

When circumstances arise and there is a conflict of interest or even a potential for a conflict of interest, the interpreter must disclose this fact and withdraw.

Back 17

True

Front 18

The interpreter may accept a gift of a store-bought cake from the patient if the interpreter states that he/she is accepting the gift on behalf of the interpreting staff.

Back 18

True

Front 19

HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, was enacted in 1996 and protects the rights of all patients.

Back 19

True

Front 20

A person who has an equal level of fluency in two languages is able to provide effective interpreting services regardless of age, experience or training.

Back 20

False

Front 21

Gestures and physical motions may be discarded when providing the interpretation from the patient to the medical provider.

Back 21

False

Front 22

A triadic encounter exists when an interpreting session is comprised of the medical provider, the patient and the interpreter.

Back 22

True

Front 23

The interpreter is prohibited from askng any clarifying questions of either the medical provider or the patient.

Back 23

False

Front 24

In any event that tension or conflict is apparent, the interpreter may ask to be replaced so that someone new to the situation can take a fresh approach.

Back 24

False

Front 25

The patient often mistakenly believes that the interpreter is there to act as their friend, supporter and advocate.

Back 25

True

Front 26

Medical interpreters are considered professionals and have duties, obligations, responsibilities and ethical standards as apply to the field of work.

Back 26

True

Front 27

Literal interpretations can be correct at times and literal intepretations can be inadequate and even dangerous at times. it is the interpreter's role to select the appropriate interpretation taking into consideration the parties, the setting and the subject matter.

Back 27

True

Front 28

There is no such thing as an "untranslatable" word.

Back 28

False

Front 29

The interpreter may disregard the beliefs, values, norms and customs of the person that they are interpreting for and concentrate only on the words stated.

Back 29

False

Front 30

In previous interpreted sessions, the interpreter learns the patient is allergic to penicillin. The new treating doctor is about to prescribe or administer this drug. The interpreter should keep this information to him or herself and not disclose this information.

Back 30

False

Front 31

You are called in to assist at a massive emergency situation. There are many injured, some worse than others. You would assist at the triage.

Back 31

True

Front 32

The interpreter must be aware that the elderly are venerated and respected in many cultures and would interpret accordingly. A minor would not receive this kind of status from the interpreter.

Back 32

True

Front 33

A doctor is providing a consultation with the patient, you are interpreting and everything is going smoothly. A second doctor comes in and the treating doctor has a side conversation with that second doctor. You should not interpret this side conversation if it becomes apparent very quickly that this information is meant only for the physicians because of the advanced medical terms being brought up.

Back 33

True

Front 34

The interpreter is not allowed to utilize information learned in interpreting encounters to his or her benefit. This would include saving on items to be purchased and personal contact with a patient outside of the medical setting in order to start a relationship.

Back 34

True

Front 35

The interpreter is encouraged to indicate to the parties that everything that is said during the interpreting encounter will be interpreted.

Back 35

True

Front 36

The interpreter is allowed to give medical advice only on matters that he or she has had extensive interpreting experience with.

Back 36

False

Front 37

The register (sophistication or lack of sophistication in the language), tone, intent and nuances must be preserved when interpreting from the source language into the target language.

Back 37

True

Front 38

The interpreter does not need to disclose or certification when asked by a patient or provider.

Back 38

False

Front 39

In periods of high emotion or in a psychiatric interview, the interpreter may utilize the simultanous mode in order to not break the flow of thought of the speaker.

Back 39

True

Front 40

Note-taking is discouraged because it shows lack of confidence.

Back 40

False

Front 41

The interpreter should correct him/herself as soon as it becomes apparent that the interpreter provided an earlier erroneous interpretation.

Back 41

True

Front 42

The use of "I" form (first person) is preferable for most interpreter encounters between the patient and the medical provider.

Back 42

True

Front 43

The interpreter is not allowed to ask the patient if he understood or not.

Back 43

False

Front 44

The interpreter may ask the medical provider for clarification if a term, treatment or diagnosis is foreign to him/her.

Back 44

True

Front 45

The interpreter may not as for a repetition from any of the parties.

Back 45

False

Front 46

If a term is ambigious or could have more than one interpretation, the interpreter is allowed to inquire with the speaker with respect to the term utilized.

Back 46

True

Front 47

The preferred mode of interpreting in a medical setting is the consecutive mode so that only one person is speaking at any given time.

Back 47

True

Front 48

The interpreter must keep in mind that he or she has to perform these duties in this specific order: 1. message converter (conduit) 2. message clarifier 3. cultural clarifier 4. patient advocate

Back 48

True

Front 49

Language is one of the most formidable obstacles to healthcare access by members of ethnocultural communities.

Back 49

True

Front 50

Mental health interpreting does not fall under the medical interpreting spectrum that requires medical interpreter certification.

Back 50

False

Front 51

In those circumstances when an intpreter is privy to information regarding suicidal/homicidal intent, child/senior abuse or domestic violence, the interpreter is obligated to transmit this information to the provider.

Back 51

True

Front 52

Interpreters may be allowed to take sides in an argument when it is patently clear that one of the parties is in the right.

Back 52

False

Front 53

An interpreter may omit statements made that are in his or her opinion wrong, untruthful or immoral.

Back 53

False