What Happens When There is No Interpreter?

What Happens When There is No Interpreter?

Some example of errors common among interpreters who have never received training:

A provider gives a non-English speaking patient a prescription, explaining that it is for some suppositories. The interpreter is too embarrassed to admit that he does not know the equivalent word for “suppository” in the patient’s language, so he uses the word for “pill” instead. The patient takes the medication orally and ends up in the emergency room.
A young mother takes her baby to the doctor as he is developing infected lesions on his back. The interpreter doesn’t correctly convey the doctor’s instructions on how often to apply the topical ointment. The lesions get worse and spread as the ointment was not applied with the prescribed frequency.
The doctor asks the patient a question. The patient answers at length and gets into a lengthy discussion with the interpreter. The doctor waits patiently, not understanding a word. Finally, the interpreter turns to the doctor and says “She said no.” When the doctor asks “What else did she say,” the interpreter smiles and says “Oh, she just means no, it was nothing important.”

Stories like these are so common that they sadly constitute the likely "norm" in much of the world's interpreting, in all kinds of serious situations -- medical and otherwise. In the United States the situation is ironic: although there is a common acceptance that a vast majority of the population is descended from different groups of immigrants, members of the dominant English Speaking culture may have little experience in dealing with speakers of other languages. As for non-English-speaking immigrants, they may have little money/resources to hire an interpreter of their own, and end up using whoever is immediately available. No matter how "modern" this nation may be in other areas, the potential for serious misunderstandings between people who don't understand each other's language remains as high as ever.

Using health care service as an example, here are some common problems that occur when interpreting is not done by a professionally-trained interpreter:

Untrained people who act as interpreter often omit, add, don’t understand, or change vital information.
The risk of misdiagnosis increases and medical errors occur, for many reasons:
Patients have difficulties understanding medication instructions, take the wrong dosage, and don’t get better.
Patients don't follow poorly understood instructions; doctors assume that serious instructions are understood when they aren't.
People don’t go to doctors for fear of not being able to describe their symptoms. Instead they wait until it’s an emergency and higher costs are incurred.
Family members are used as interpreters. This may even mean that children end up being left to relay complicated medical terms or emotional news, placing far too much responsibility and burden on them.
Confidentiality and informed consent are compromised. This is because there is no guarantee that the untrained interpreter has any commitment to these ethics. Confidentiality and informed consent are both part of the professional interpreter's Code of Ethics.