A New York regulation will now require hospitals to provide skilled medical translators for non-English speaking patients. Currently, doctors often have to rely on family members to communicate with their patients. However, this can be problematic, as the translator often can't interpret medical terminology accurately, and a close family member may unintentionally translate incorrectly in order to soften the blow of a poor prognosis. This, researchers say, causes serious problems for medical professionals. "It impedes the ability for information to flow freely and violates patient confidentiality laws," Adam Gurvitch, director of health advocacy at the New York Immigration Coalition, told the Associated Press.
Hospitals will rely on volunteers, bilingual staff and translating agencies to comply with the new regulation. The law doesn't specify what constitutes a "skilled" medical translator however. Patients can only use a family member if they refuse the help of a professional translator.
For more on the regulation:
- read this AP report
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