CASLI Medical Interpreting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Deaf patient uses ASL signs unfamiliar to the interpreter during a psychiatric evaluation. What is the best course of action?
- Continue interpreting using approximate equivalents without disclosure
- Stop and ask the patient to clarify their signs before proceeding
- Inform the provider that clarification is needed and pause interpretation (Correct answer)
- Request a different interpreter who may know the signs
Correct answer: Inform the provider that clarification is needed and pause interpretation
The interpreter must transparently inform the provider when comprehension is impaired so clinical accuracy is preserved.
Question 2: Which ethical principle is MOST at risk when a medical interpreter summarizes a patient's lengthy narrative instead of interpreting it fully?
- Confidentiality
- Accuracy and completeness (Correct answer)
- Impartiality
- Cultural mediation
Correct answer: Accuracy and completeness
Summarizing omits detail the provider needs, directly violating the accuracy and completeness standard.
Question 3: During a pre-operative consent discussion, the surgeon speaks very quickly. The ASL interpreter should:
- Interpret at the same rapid pace to match the surgeon's style
- Skip less critical information to keep up with the surgeon
- Ask the surgeon to pause periodically to ensure complete interpretation (Correct answer)
- Condense the information into key points for the Deaf patient
Correct answer: Ask the surgeon to pause periodically to ensure complete interpretation
The interpreter has a professional right and responsibility to request pacing that allows full, accurate interpretation.
Question 4: A DeafBlind patient arrives for a medical appointment. Which interpreting mode is most appropriate?
- Standard platform interpreting at a distance
- Tactile ASL or Pro-Tactile method (Correct answer)
- Speech-to-text captioning on a tablet
- Oral transliteration
Correct answer: Tactile ASL or Pro-Tactile method
Tactile ASL or Pro-Tactile is the standard approach for DeafBlind individuals who cannot access visual signing.
Question 5: When a physician asks the interpreter, 'Does the patient seem to understand?', the interpreter should:
- Answer based on personal clinical observation
- Explain that assessing comprehension is the provider's role and offer to re-interpret if needed (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient directly if they understood
- Decline to respond and continue interpreting
Correct answer: Explain that assessing comprehension is the provider's role and offer to re-interpret if needed
Assessing patient comprehension is a clinical function; the interpreter should redirect that responsibility to the provider.
Question 6: Which scenario best illustrates role boundary maintenance in a medical setting?
- The interpreter advises the patient to seek a second opinion after the appointment
- The interpreter relays the patient's emotional distress signs accurately to the provider (Correct answer)
- The interpreter tells the nurse what medication the patient mentioned taking at home
- The interpreter contacts the pharmacy on the patient's behalf after the visit
Correct answer: The interpreter relays the patient's emotional distress signs accurately to the provider
Faithfully conveying emotional content through the provider stays within the interpreter's role; direct clinical action does not.
Question 7: A patient discloses during interpretation that they are being abused at home. Under CASLI ethics, the interpreter should:
- Contact the authorities directly after the appointment
- Continue interpreting and allow the clinician to respond (Correct answer)
- Stop the session and speak privately with the patient
- Omit the disclosure to protect the patient's privacy
Correct answer: Continue interpreting and allow the clinician to respond
The interpreter must convey the disclosure accurately so the clinician, who holds reporting obligations, can respond appropriately.
CASLI Medical Interpreting 2
A Deaf patient uses ASL signs unfamiliar to the interpreter during a psychiatric evaluation.
What is the best course of action?