Additional
Information
In addition to the language
assistance measures suggested in the Legal Advisor article, physicians
may allow an LEP patient to use a family member or friend to act as an
interpreter. Some LEP patients may feel more comfortable when a trusted
family member or friend acts as an interpreter. When a physician
determines, upon application of the four factors, that he/she should
provide an interpreter, that physician should make the LEP patient aware
that he or she has the option of having the physician provide an
interpreter for him/her without charge, or of using his/her family
member as an interpreter. Physicians should also consider the special
circumstances that may affect whether a family member or friend should
serve as an interpreter, such as whether the situation is an emergency,
and concerns over competency, confidentiality, privacy, or conflict of
interest. The physician, however, may not require a LEP patient to use a
family member or a friend as his or her interpreter.
For more information on providing
services to patients with limited English proficiency, please see the
following references:
MMS Directory of Medical Interpreter and Translation
Services
United States Department of
Health & Human Services
Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/lep
United States Department of
Health & Human Services
Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title
VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited
English Proficient Persons
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/lep/revisedlep.html
American Medical
Association
Guidelines for LEP Patients
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/11828.html
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