Identity Crisis of Spoken Language Interpreters Cont'd

[This is a continuation of  the October 18th blog  "Identity Crisis of Spoken Language Interpreters]

So, let’s “muse” together.  What was the big deal?   Was there any harm done?

At the very least, it was not taking advantage of a wonderful opportunity to educate the consumers of interpretation services about our identity, our role, how to best utilize our skills and expertise, and compliance to federal laws.  Without having to subject the uncooperative and uninterested receptionist to a lengthy lecture quoting ethical precepts, codes, and best practices of the profession, she would have subtly conveyed the entire message merely by being a professional interpreter.   No “sermon” on the Title VI Statute of the Civil Rights Act of 1962 was necessary.  No verbal promenade through the boulevard of culturally and linguistically appropriate services in healthcare (CLAS standards) was needed.   Without even realizing what had occurred, the receptionist would have provided the same service to the “Spanish folks,” as she provides to “English folks,” and by doing so would have served as a glowing example of compliance to Title VI.  The hospital which employs the receptionist would have been in full compliance to federal law, not for a second risking withdrawal of federal funds. 

Further, without realizing the full impact of simply doing her job, the interpreter would have contributed a brick to the pharaonic pyramid( currently in construction) of being recognized as a professional, a professional as recognized as a doctor, a nurse, a teacher, a nutritionist, a translator, an orchestra conductor, an interpreter - recognition the interpreter in our real-life story ironically has often expressed she desperately wants.  

 The profession of medical interpretation lost out on an opportunity to demonstrate in action what it is.  The individual interpreter was harmed in that she will not be taken seriously as a professional.  And rightly so; she is, after all, a “helper-outer” for Spanish folks.  She is the person who can make these troublesome “different” folks (who keep the sheltered receptionist from doing her job by rote) disappear.  And in merely a tiny episode with no real danger of serious repercussions,  the hospital was harmed because it was in non-compliance to federal laws. 

And last but not least, albeit unwittingly, she harmed you, yes you, the professional interpreter who will be the one to respond to the receptionist’s next page and who, after having brought the “pesky” Spanish folks up to the reception desk for the receptionist to assist, will be asked, with an inpatient tone in the receptionist's voice, “Can’t you just take care of this?”.   Yes, you, the interpreter whose refusal to simply "take care of the Spanish folk problem" and insistence on interpreting (imagine that) will make you the recipient of rude remarks.  You will be asked to identify your manager so a formal complaint can be submitted;   Yes, you, the one called into your manager’s office to defend your lack of “teamwork,”; the very you, who will have to sit through the staff meeting in which the “Spanish folk helper-outer” will receive a “spotlight” for excellent patient care, you also have been harmed.