I never thought I’d be on the receiving end of language services. As the president of an LSP, I’ve spent years advocating for professional interpretation but experiencing it firsthand was nothing short of eye-opening – and honestly, quite sad.
It all started during what was supposed to be a lovely Sunday. My mom, a 78-year-old cancer survivor from Colombia with endless energy, was selling her handmade Christmas ornaments at a brunch I organized with my girlfriends. We had transformed my home into a beautiful bazaar and seeing her in her element brought me so much joy. But within an hour, everything changed when she took a wrong step and fell hard on her left side, hitting her head and face.
My mom, being the energizer bunny she is, jumped right up, insisting she was fine. She didn’t want to ruin the gathering – that’s just who she is. But daugther’s intuition told me something wasn’t right. Sure enough, the next day she started complaining about pain in her face and chest.
The Urgent Care Visit
At the urgent care clinic (which I won’t name because they were truly trying their best), I witnessed firsthand what happens when we don’t use qualified medical interpreters. After living in this country for over 20 years, I know how expensive medical bills can be, so I always get travel insurance for my parents when they visit from Colombia. Thank goodness for that!
Here’s where it gets interesting – and a bit frustrating. My mom, following old Colombian traditions, wanted me to wrap her ribs tight with elastic bandages because “that’s what we always do.” She kept insisting, “as long as you tie me up really hard, I will be fine.” Of course, I knew better, but I wanted her to hear it from the doctors themselves.
The Interpretation Challenge
When they offered an interpreter, I eagerly said yes. We got the sweetest nurse from the Dominican Republic – warm, friendly, and bilingual. But being bilingual isn’t the same as being a medical interpreter, and that became painfully clear as the visit progressed.
The nurse started interpreting for the doctor, and I couldn’t help but notice crucial details getting lost in translation. When I jumped in to mention in English that my mom had hit her face (which she’d forgotten to mention), the nurse quickly said, “Oh, you speak English, you don’t need me.” I had to insist we needed her, but you could tell she wasn’t thrilled.
What really concerned me was how she handled medical terminology. My mom had a hairline fracture in two ribs, but the nurse kept telling her in Spanish that she “broke two bones in her chest.” She mixed English and Spanish, missed important details, and wasn’t providing the complete information the doctor was sharing.
The Sad Reality
With the clinic closing soon and no time for another interpreter, I ended up interpreting myself. The nurse, bless her heart, tried to save face by saying, “they speak a different Spanish. Her daughter is using Spanish words I’m not familiar with.” But that wasn’t true – I was simply using proper medical terminology.
A week later, I’m still thinking about this experience. My mom is recovering well at home, but I can’t shake the thought: what about all those patients who don’t have a professional interpreter in the family? When will medical facilities understand that being bilingual doesn’t make someone an interpreter?
If you work at a medical facility and you are seeing this happening – professional medical interpreters being replaced by bilingual staff or family members – please reach out. We’ve experienced firsthand the risks your patients face and the liability you’re carrying. Family members and bilingual staff, despite best intentions, aren’t the answer. The stakes are just too high for that and we would love to help.
