NBCMI Professional Code of Ethics 5

Question 1

An interpreter overhears staff discussing a celebrity patient in the hallway and later tells a friend. Which ethical principle is breached?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality

Answer

Any information learned in the course of interpreting work, even incidentally, must be kept confidential.

Question 2

When an interpreter must clarify a cultural misunderstanding, the recommended practice is to:

Accepted Answer

Inform all parties that they are stepping out of the interpreting role and why

Answer

Transparency requires that any interpreter intervention be made known to all parties in the encounter.

Question 3

A patient asks the interpreter, 'Which treatment option would you choose?' The best response is to:

Accepted Answer

Interpret the question to the provider and refrain from giving personal advice

Answer

Interpreters must not give personal opinions or advice, which would violate impartiality and role boundaries.

Question 4

Which situation represents appropriate patient advocacy by a medical interpreter?

Accepted Answer

Raising concerns through proper channels when a patient is clearly denied language access

Answer

Advocacy is ethically appropriate only to address mistreatment or barriers to care, using proper protocols.

Question 5

An interpreter makes an interpreting error and realizes it ten minutes later. What should they do?

Accepted Answer

Promptly correct the error with all parties present

Answer

Ethical practice requires interpreters to acknowledge and correct errors as soon as possible to preserve accuracy.

NBCMI - National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters Practice Test