03/14/2024    

QUERIES (MEICAL-LEGAL)

Query: Is a Foreign Language Interpreter Required Under the ADA?

 

Regarding providing assistance to disabled persons (like sign language interpreting for deaf patients), must a clinic provide an interpreter for simply not being able to speak English? We have a patient who speaks only Spanish, claims they do not have any person they can bring to interpret, and insists that we provide an interpreter. They have no "medical" disability -- they simply can't speak English. I am aware we could find someone --- as could they --- but my question is, are we REQUIRED to do that under ADA or any other federal law?

 

R. Alex Dellinger, DPM, Little Rock, AR    

 

Editor’s comment: PM News does not provide legal advice. Yes. The best source for a free language interpreter is to see a patient at a hospital clinic (if you have privileges to do so). Some apps or devices such as Wooask allow you to communicate with foreign speaking patients.

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