Interpreters in Medical Practice

There are times in Medical Practice that a patient's poor understanding of English is of concern so that a doctor can be tempted to use a family member or friend as interpreter. Difficulties arise when patients are embarrassed to discuss personal issues. Further, the risk of mistranslation of medical issues is always present. On occasion, the use of a trained interpreter is required.

Brochures

State health departments produce a range of information sheets in numerous languages. These can be helpful in providing your non-English speaking patient with general information but they have limited function in obtaining a proper informed consent.

Adequate Interpreter Services

Doctors working in the Public Health system generally have access to an interpreter service. A similar service is provided by the federal Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Details are available at www.immi.gov.au/tis - and then scroll to the bottom of this page and click 'Free Services'.

Doctors Priority Line

Doctors have access to the Doctors Priority Line service, which seems to work efficiently. In a recent 12 month period over 35,000 services were provided and 90% of calls were connected to an interpreter within three minutes. A speaker phone is required.

Not only are wide spread languages such as Arabic, Cantonese and Mandarin catered for but for small refugee groups whose languages may not be well known, a service can be provided in most cases.

Medical practitioners can use the Doctors Priority Line when providing services that are:

• claimable under Medicare
• rendered in private practice
• provided to non-English speakers who are Australian citizens or permanent residents

24 hour telephone number: 1300 131 450

It could save time in the future if you complete and submit the registration form that can be downloaded from the website (http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/help-with-english/help_with_translating/_pdf/doctors-free-interpreting-registration-form.pdf).

Face to face services are available but can be difficult to arrange.

RECORDS

In case of a later dispute, it is good risk management to record who was present i.e. a family member, a friend or if the patient was alone. Similarly interpreters have identification numbers which should be recorded. The level of English comprehension and expression of the patient is worth noting.

Ultimately, the doctor's clinical judgment will determine whether an interpreter service is used.

Risk Management Tips

• Remember the limitations of using family or friends as interpreters
• Register with the Doctors Priority Line - you never know when you may need it
• Record the names of all parties present for the consultation. This is useful for all consultations as 'phantom' witnesses have been known to give evidence in court cases

Kate Rapsey
Claims & Operations Manager
Invivo Medical Indemnity