(1) Should the interpreter be alone with the patient (and her relatives) before the interview?

What may
be the consequences of privately spending time with her/them?

No, the interpreter should not be alone with the patient and her relatives before the interview. Privately
spending time with the patient and her relatives can lead to several consequences, including:

 Miscommunication: Without the nurse's presence, important medical information and instructions
may not be conveyed accurately to the patient and her sister, which can lead to misunderstandings
or missed details about the procedure and its implications.

 Loss of control: As seen in this case, when the interpreter spends time alone with the patient and
her sister, it can lead to a loss of control over the interview by the healthcare provider. The
interpreter may engage in side-conversations that are not relevant to the medical assessment,
causing disruptions and delays in the process.

 Influence on decision-making: The interpreter's private interactions with the patient and her sister
may influence their perceptions and decisions, potentially leading to refusal of necessary medical
procedures, as seen in this case.

(2) Should the interpreter participate in side-conversations with one of the speakers (the patient and her
sister, in this case)? How may the other speaker (the nurse, in this case) feel about it?

Interpreters should generally avoid participating in side-conversations with one of the speakers during a
medical interview. In this case, the interpreter engaging in side-conversations with the patient and her
sister had negative consequences:

 The nurse likely felt frustrated and undermined by the interpreter's behavior because it disrupted
the flow of the interview and hindered effective communication with the patient.

 Side-conversations can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations, as the interpreter may

not accurately convey critical medical information to the patient.

 It may also create an impression of unprofessionalism and a lack of neutrality on the part of the
interpreter, which can erode trust between the healthcare provider and the interpreter.

Interpreters should maintain a professional and neutral stance during medical interviews, focusing on
accurately conveying information between the healthcare provider and the patient while avoiding personal
discussions or distractions.

(3) Do you think that the interpreter in this case may have influenced the final decision of the patient? Is
she allowed to do this?

Yes, the interpreter in this case did influence the final decision of the patient. The interpreter's refusal to
convey the nurse's message about the unavailability of a female doctor and her insistence on the patient
not proceeding with the procedure led to the patient's decision not to undergo the test. This influence was
unprofessional and detrimental to the patient's care.

Interpreters should not use their role to impose their personal beliefs or opinions on patients. Their primary
responsibility is to facilitate communication between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring that
information is accurately conveyed without bias or influence. In this case, the interpreter's actions went
against the principles of impartiality and professionalism, potentially compromising the patient's healthcare
decisions.

Healthcare institutions and interpreters should have clear guidelines and training in place to ensure
interpreters understand their roles and responsibilities, including the need to maintain neutrality and avoid
influencing patients' decisions.