Working with interpreters and CALD communities

Meet the patient — the silent woman in resus

A 60-year-old Karen-speaking woman is brought to the ED by police after a suicide attempt. Her son, who speaks good English, translates that she "just wants to go home." The night registrar accepts the history, completes a risk form, and is about to discharge her when you arrive. There is no professional interpreter booked. The viva question is live: what is wrong with the next ten minutes, and what is the right move?^[2][3]

The wrong move is to continue with the son. Using a family member — and especially a child of the patient — to interpret adult psychiatric content is a never-event for risk, consent, and trauma history when a professional alternative exists. Book the interpreter, even by phone, before you complete the assessment.^[3][4][10]

References20ShowHide

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