If a patient expresses preferences or concerns, how should the interpreter handle these?

• A. Convey them to the clinician, but should not advocate.
• B. Ignore them.
• C. Provide medical advice to resolve concerns.
• D. Change the subject.

Answer: (A)

Interpreters must relay the patient’s preferences and concerns to the clinician and remain neutral, not advocating for any particular outcome. By faithfully conveying what the patient wants to express, the clinician can understand the patient’s values, goals, and questions, which supports informed consent and shared decision-making. Providing medical advice would overstep the interpreter’s boundaries, and ignoring or changing the subject prevents the patient’s needs from being addressed, which can compromise care and trust.