Immigrants Gain Right to Medical Interpreters

Source: New American Media



New America Media, News Report, Viji Sundaram, Posted: Jan 26, 2009 Review it on NewsTrust

Editor's Note: A new regulation requires commercial health and dental insurers to provide interpreters to patients who need them, lessening the likelihood of medical mistakes and treatment delays, reports NAM Health Editor Viji Sundaram.

SAN FRANCISCO -- About two years ago, the staff of a Los Angeles hospital tied both hands of a 97-year-old South Korean immigrant to the bed frame after the man raised his voice in frustration when no one could understand what he was trying to say in his native language.

In another instance, Myung Hee Kim, a 71-year-old South Korean immigrant who spoke no English and was admitted to a hospital in Southern California for diabetes-related complications, was administered pain relievers to her right shoulder when she complained of pain in her left shoulder.

Such medical mistakes are now less likely to happen in California, thanks to a new regulation that requires commercial health and dental insurers to provide translators, if not in person, at least by telephone or video conferencing, said Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, one of a number of non-profits that helped California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN), push the legislation through.

"This can make a big difference in the quality of health care our communities receive," said Marty Martinez, policy director at CPEHN, which sponsored the legislation.

Read more: http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=05234777cbb7c6e5f9caec245e3e9942&from=rss

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Yours truly started translating for family members in docs' offices when I was four. I'm sure a grown up interpreter would have done a better job! This is good news for a lot of families.

:bounce: This makes me SO happy!
Bookmarking, so I can give it a well deserved kick later.

then they need to provide a lawyer and an accountant provided to translate for when a person deals with legal and financial paperwork

Until that happens people who need translators, lawyers and accountants need to be sure they have their own support network including a translator. Most hospitals have translators on call. Small providers just cannot afford to do this right now. It could be a live internet service at the hospital and but it will increase medical costs to do this.

This would be a good business to start.

And why would malpractice insurance companies have ever allowed them to change it? Not using an interpreter is a malpractice case waiting to happen---like DUI is a car wreck waiting to happen. Usually the insurance industry is all over stuff like this.

When I did work it, the insurance companies mostly tried to use the lack of English skills to their advantage as they set about intimidating people who were trying to bring claims.

Maybe the malpractice insurers figured out that most of these people go away and do not pursue malpractice claims because they can't afford it on top of having trouble communicating in the first place.