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Understanding Different Types of Disabilities and Communicating Through Interpreters
Conclusion Effective and meaningful informed consent in healthcare requires healthcare providers to have a deep understanding of the demographic and cultural backgrounds of their patients and tailor the consent process accordingly. Language access, cultural consideration, and patient education play pivotal roles in ensuring that patients fully comprehend their medical treatment options. Informed consent should be viewed as an ongoing process that adapts to changes in the patient’s condition and preferences over time. By prioritizing these factors, healthcare providers can establish a patient-centered healthcare system that fosters trust, enhances health outcomes, and addresses health disparities among diverse populations.
Neil Ray Lori Whynot
Learning Objectives 1. Recognize the different types of disabilities and their unique communication needs. 2. Understand the importance of accessible communication tools and technologies. 3. Develop effective communication strategies and techniques to improve engagement and understanding with individuals with disabilities.
Suggested Reading 1 Artiga, S., Diaz, M. (2019). Health coverage and care for undocumented immigrants. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved June 6, 2023 from https://www.kff.org/ racial-equity-and-health-policy/ issue-brief/health-coverage- and-care-of-undocumented- immigrants/ 2 Beauchamp, T. L. (2011). Informed consent: Its history, meaning, and present challenges. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 20(4), 515-523. DOI: 10.1017/ S0963180111000259 3 Ekmekci, P. E., & Arda, B. (2017). Interculturalism and Informed Consent: Respecting Cultural Differences without Breaching Human Rights. Cultura (Iasi), 14(2), 159-172. 4 Gamble, V. N. (1997). Under the shadow of Tuskegee: African Americans and health care. American Journal of Public Health, 87(11), 1773-1778. doi: 10.2105/ ajph.87.11.1773. 5 Marks, L. (1999). Human guinea pigs? The history of the early oral contraceptive clinical trials. History and Technology, 15(4), 263-288. doi: 10.1080/07341519908581949. 6 Singhal, A., Tien, Y. Y., & Hsia, R. Y. (2016). Racial-Ethnic Disparities in Opioid Prescriptions at Emergency Department Visits for Conditions Commonly Associated with Prescription Drug Abuse. PLoS One, 11(8), e0159224. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159224.
Introduction Interpreters provide a vital and necessary link to effective communication between two or more people who do not share the same language. The range of domains where interpreting services can be used is broad. This chapter will focus on the use of interpreting services in the health care setting. Interpreters generally work between a language pair, either spoken or signed; two different spoken languages, one spoken and one signed, or even two different signed languages. Their role is to effectively communicate the messages shared between individuals in a communication event. In the healthcare setting this may include a pre- or post-operative environment, a mental health appointment or even a pharmacy consultation, among many others. In performing this role the interpreter must consider and be respectful of cultural norms and customs of all parties. Interpreters are obliged to follow a set of ethical principles set out by their governing bodies and maintain a high level of professional conduct. These principles include confidentiality, impartiality, faithfulness, professional skill and knowledge required for the specific situation, and demonstrating respect for all clients. A healthcare interaction may involve trauma or be the catalyst for a stressful situation for many people.
Interpreters need to be mindful of the potential stressors during a communication event. Establishing Terms An interpreter is defined as a person who renders a message from one language (signed or spoken) into another language (signed or spoken) in real time. The language pairs may be spoken or signed. In contrast, a translator provides a rendition of a text into another language in which there is a gap in time between the original message and the target message. A piece of text may have been written many years before a translation of it takes place. The term ‘Deaf’ is used by people who identify themselves as belonging to a community who share similar experiences of language, culture, education and hearing loss. Not all people who have a hearing loss will associate in the Deaf community. The term ‘hard of hearing’ or ‘deaf’ identifies people who have lost their hearing after the acquisition of a spoken language. These people may or may not choose to associate with members of the Deaf community.
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WHAT DID YOU SAY?
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