CILISAT - Community Interpreter Language and Interpreting Skills Assessment Tools Ethics and Professional Conduct Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a medical appointment, a client you are interpreting for tells you they are not taking their prescribed medication because they believe a traditional herbal remedy is more effective. The doctor seems concerned about this. What is the interpreter's most appropriate action based on the principle of impartiality?
- Encourage the client to follow the doctor's prescription to ensure their well-being.
- Inform the doctor that in the client's culture, traditional remedies are often trusted more than modern medicine.
- Accurately interpret the client's statement to the doctor and the doctor's response to the client without adding any personal opinions or advice. (Correct answer)
- Suggest a compromise where the client can take both the prescribed medication and the herbal remedy.
Correct answer: Accurately interpret the client's statement to the doctor and the doctor's response to the client without adding any personal opinions or advice.
The core ethical principle of impartiality requires interpreters to convey messages accurately without adding, omitting, or distorting the content, and without allowing personal beliefs or biases to influence the interpretation. The interpreter's role is to facilitate communication, not to advise, counsel, or mediate. Options A, B, and D all involve the interpreter stepping outside their role boundaries.
Question 2: An interpreter arrives at a legal aid clinic for an assignment and realizes the client is their next-door neighbor. According to professional ethics, what is the first step the interpreter should take?
- Proceed with the interpretation but make a mental note to remain extra impartial.
- Disclose the conflict of interest to all parties involved and offer to withdraw from the assignment. (Correct answer)
- Ask the neighbor not to reveal their relationship to the legal aid provider.
- Complete the assignment and then report the potential conflict of interest to the agency.
Correct answer: Disclose the conflict of interest to all parties involved and offer to withdraw from the assignment.
Professional conduct requires interpreters to avoid conflicts of interest, or even the appearance of a conflict. The prior relationship with the client (being a neighbor) could compromise the interpreter's impartiality or the client's confidentiality. The proper procedure is to immediately disclose the relationship to all parties and be prepared to withdraw so an alternative interpreter can be found.
Question 3: Which of the following is a primary responsibility of a community interpreter regarding professional development?
- Once certified, no further training is necessary as skills have been formally assessed.
- To attend training only when a specific new type of assignment is offered.
- To engage in ongoing learning to maintain and enhance their skills and knowledge. (Correct answer)
- To focus solely on improving vocabulary in their working languages.
Correct answer: To engage in ongoing learning to maintain and enhance their skills and knowledge.
The principle of 'Continued Competence' or 'Professional Development' is a key part of the interpreter's code of ethics. Languages, terminology, and best practices evolve over time. Lifelong learning ensures that interpreters maintain a high quality of service and stay current with the demands of the profession.
Question 4: During an interpretation for social services, a client becomes very emotional and reveals information about a situation that is not directly related to the reason for the appointment. The interpreter is ethically obligated to:
- Interpret everything the client says, as it is part of the communication. (Correct answer)
- Summarize the emotional parts to save time and keep the meeting focused.
- Stop the client and advise them to only discuss topics relevant to the appointment.
- Only interpret the information that the interpreter deems important for the service provider.
Correct answer: Interpret everything the client says, as it is part of the communication.
The principle of 'Accuracy and Fidelity' (or Completeness) mandates that interpreters render all messages in their entirety, without omission, addition, or distortion. It is not the interpreter's role to edit, summarize, or decide what is relevant; their duty is to convey the message as it was stated, including the emotional content expressed.
Question 5: After a difficult and lengthy interpretation session at a hospital, the client's grateful family offers the interpreter a cash 'tip' of $50. Which action aligns with the CILISAT code of professional conduct?
- Accept the tip, as it is a token of appreciation for a job well done.
- Accept the money but donate it to the hospital's foundation.
- Politely decline the gift, explaining that the professional code of ethics does not permit accepting additional compensation. (Correct answer)
- Suggest they use the money to buy a coffee for the nursing staff instead.
Correct answer: Politely decline the gift, explaining that the professional code of ethics does not permit accepting additional compensation.
Maintaining professional boundaries includes not accepting gifts, tips, or favors from clients. Doing so could create a conflict of interest or compromise the interpreter's impartiality in future encounters. The professional response is to politely refuse and explain that it is against their code of conduct.
Question 6: The ethical principle of 'Confidentiality' requires an interpreter to treat all information learned during an assignment as private. This obligation is waived only when:
- The interpreter discusses the case with another interpreter for training purposes, without using names.
- The information is related to a minor crime that the interpreter believes is not serious.
- The interpreter is ordered by a court of law to disclose the information. (Correct answer)
- The service provider asks for the interpreter's opinion on the client's situation after the session.
Correct answer: The interpreter is ordered by a court of law to disclose the information.
Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the interpreter's code of ethics. Interpreters must not disclose any information learned during their work. The only exception is when disclosure is required by law, such as a court order or in specific situations of imminent harm as defined by statutes (e.g., child abuse reporting laws). Discussing cases with others, even without names, or making personal judgments about the seriousness of a crime are violations of this principle.
CILISAT - Community Interpreter Language and Interpreting Skills Assessment Tools Ethics and Professional Conduct Questions and Answers
During a medical appointment, a client you are interpreting for tells you they are not taking their prescribed medication because they believe a traditional herbal remedy is more effective.
The doctor seems concerned about this.
What is the interpreter's most appropriate action based on the principle of impartiality?