Language should never be a barrier to good medical care, but it often is in the United States. Language barriers lead to health disparities and create serious health risks. Even if they can get to a doctor, people who don’t speak English fluently or who don’t speak it at all can’t understand important medical information. This information might include a diagnosis, the details of a treatment plan, or recommendations on how to adopt healthy habits. This type of information is vital for people to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Medical Interpreters
Medical interpreters speak at least two languages. Their role is to help you clearly communicate anything you have to say to your doctor, as well as anything your doctor needs to communicate to you. The services of a medical interpreter can help prevent misunderstandings and mistakes. For example, if you can’t communicate your symptoms to your doctor clearly, it might lead to an incorrect diagnosis. If you can’t understand the recommendations your doctor is making, you might get the wrong over-the-counter (OTC) medicine or not realize that you have to make changes to your diet. In this way, medical interpreters serve as a bridge between you and your doctor so you and your doctor can understand each other clearly.
Things a medical interpreter can help you communicate to your doctor include:
- A list of symptoms you have been feeling
- Any questions about your treatment plan you might have
- Any questions about alternative medicine you might have heard about online or from friends and family
- Any questions about prescription or OTC medicines
Things a medical interpreter can help your doctor communicate to you include:
- Your diagnosis
- Any additional tests you might need
- Recommendations for other specialists or care providers
- Any changes to your diet you might need to make
- Answers to all the questions you might have
How Do You Get a Medical Interpreter and Material Written in Spanish?
If English is not your first language and you have difficulty speaking and understanding it, you have the right to receive the services of a professional medical interpreter. Even if you speak English well, it might be a good idea to ask for a medical interpreter to help you during your medical appointments. A medical interpreter is trained to explain complex medical information in terms that are easy to understand.
Care providers who receive federal funding from the United States are legally required to provide you not only with a medical interpreter but also with written materials translated into your language.
Additionally, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has created a language assistance plan that aims to provide communication in a patient’s preferred language. Under this plan, care providers must provide qualified medical interpreters in a patient’s language, even if they don’t receive federal government funding.
Medical interpreters are usually available in person at the clinic, office, or hospital. But some medical interpreters offer their services by phone or video calls.
Your doctor has a duty to provide you with a medical interpreter or printed medical information in Spanish if you need it. Still, if no one in the office offers you help, don’t be shy about asking for anything you need.
Your Right to Interpretation and Translation of Medical Information
It’s important to know your rights. In the United States, anyone who has limited English proficiency has the legal right to access language services, both written and verbal, in any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. If not, it is considered a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a national law that protects people from being discriminated against based on race, color, or national origin.
In 2000, an executive order took effect requiring federal agencies:
- To examine the services they offer
- To identify whether they need to provide any additional services to people with limited English proficiency
- To develop and implement a system to provide needed services
Your Pharmacist Can Help
Even if your pharmacist doesn’t speak Spanish, you can ask for materials in your language so you can understand:
- The dose of prescription or OTC medicine you need to take. For example, how many pills and how often.
- Any warnings. For example, not driving after taking opioids or other medicines that cause drowsiness or not taking a certain medicine if you have liver disease.
- Whether you should take your prescription or OTC medicines with food or drink.
- Which OTC medicine makes the most sense for you.
Certain OTC medicines come with bilingual information labels or have separate labels prepared in Spanish that include the dose you need to take, any active and inactive ingredients, warnings, directions, and a list of possible side effects and risks.
Where Can I Find Medical Information Sources Written in Spanish?
There are certain government and medical organizations, as well as some hospitals and medical centers, that offer medical information in Spanish on their websites. If you need medical information in your language that is clear and easy to understand, you can start by searching on those websites. Still, let your doctor know you need resources in Spanish.
Show Sources
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SOURCES:
AMA Journal of Ethics: “Clinicians’ Obligations to Use Qualified Medical Interpreters When Caring for Patients with Limited English Proficiency.”
AORN Journal: “When Patients and Providers Speak Different Languages.”
EPA: “Assisting People with Limited English Proficiency,” “EPA Order 1000.32 Compliance with Executive Order 13166.”
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved: “Availability of Spanish prescription labels.”
National Institutes of Health: “Language Access in Clear Communication.”
Pew Research Center: “Who is Hispanic?”
Pharmacy: “The Effectiveness of Nonprescription Drug Labels in the United States: Insights from Recent Research and Opportunities for the Future.”
Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy: “Impact of bilingual product information labels on Spanish-speaking adults’ ability to comprehend OTC information.”
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: “Frequently Asked Questions: Section 1557 of the ACA,” “Your Rights Under the Community Service Assurance Provision of the Hill-Burton Act,” “Your Rights Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
U.S. Government Publishing Office: “United States Code Title 42: The Public Health and Welfare.”
