SIS Community Interpreters are required to exercise professional judgement and discretion and intervene sensitively. Such interventions may be crucial to positive outcomes, and requires skilful practice on their part. Below is one such story where a SIS interpreters’ inventions and use of professional judgement was particularly important and critical for patient and the practitioner alike.
“I interpreted for a woman suffering from a terminal cancer. The session included the client, her son and daughter and two consultants. The aim of the session was to inform the client that the cancer had spread, and that she has a limited life expectancy, and to discuss resuscitation and End of life care. It was challenging as there was no pre-session with the consultants to explain cultural factors about telling patients about a terminal illness and discussing End of life care. In the patients’ own country, patients are often not told of the full factor of their illness. Families usually keep details away to protect their loved ones. There is also the religious beliefs that death is a destiny which only God knows when it will happen.
I intervened to have a quick conversation with the client, the family, and the consultants to ensure that everyone is happy for me to interpret. I was informed that the family speak English. The consultants had asked for an impartial interpreter to ensure that the client herself is fully informed. When the consultant explained the prognosis, the family kept interrupting and at times were aggressive in trying to ensure that their mother does not get the full information.
During the session, I again intervened highlighting (to the consultants) the sensitivity of the issues discussed and the tensions arising. I interpreted around issues about resuscitation, best interest decision making and taking the patient’s wishes into account. The recommendations by the medical staff not to resuscitate was a difficult issue to discuss and accept because it is not a common practice in the patient’s country. Life expectancy was another difficult issue to discuss. When the client was first asked if she would like to know how long she has got to live, she asked for my opinion. I explained to all parties that it is not my job and that it is ultimately her decision. The family were determined not to let the client know.
Ultimately the client was aware of her children’s upset and went along with their wishes. She was the stronger person during the session and was actively mothering her adult children and protecting them. Further on, palliative care was explained and options of care in a hospice were discussed gently, and I again intervened to explain to the practitioner that in this culture people would want to be dying at home with their families as the concept of hospice is not known in that country.”
In busy hospitals, interpreters frequently do not have the benefit of a Pre-session with practitioners where factual cultural information, might be usefully shared beforehand. Such prior sharing of information can help maximise staff time, ensure effective use of the Community Interpreter and avoid distress for family and patient alike.
SIS encourages ‘Pre-Sessions’ where the content of an interpreting session is sensitive, or information to be given distressing.
We provide comprehensive Guidelines for Working Effectively with Interpreters.
If your staff team or department would benefit from training to help you ‘Work effectively with Interpreters,’ please get in touch with SIS.
Contact SIS Director for more information.
shahreen@sussexinterpreting.org.uk
Thank you.