Interpreting Informed Consent
Informed consent requires that the patient understands the diagnosis, the proposed treatment, alternative treatments, risks and benefits of each option, and the consequences of refusing treatment. The interpreter must convey all of this information completely and check that the language used is accessible to the patient's comprehension level—not all Deaf patients have the same English literacy or ASL fluency. If the patient's responses suggest they do not understand, the interpreter has a responsibility to inform the provider: 'The interpreter observes that the patient may not fully understand. Would you like to explain further?' This is not advocacy—it is ensuring the communication is effective, which is the interpreter's professional duty.