Children as informal interpreters in GP consultations: pragmatics and ideology

Abstract

This paper explores the views of General Practitioners (GPs) about the appropriateness of children undertaking a task of interpretation between the GP and an adult patient in primary heath care consultations. We argue that the operational constraints that GPs face because of the limited availability of professional interpreters or bi-lingual Health Advocates create situations where children are accepted in this role by GPs, subject to specific limitations and contingencies. The contingent nature of perceptions of children's acceptability as informal interpreters is shown to be related primarily to the nature of the medical consultation in terms of whether it is likely to be straightforward, complex or sensitive. At the same time GPs express an ideological opposition to the appropriateness of this task for children generally. This ideological opposition is explicitly linked by GPs to broader constructions of a 'proper' childhood, characterised as a time of innocence and freedom from worry.

Not Just “Getting by”: Factors Influencing Providers’ Choice of Interpreters

“…33,34 Depending on the tasks involved, a specific type of interpreter may be acceptable, preferred, or even required. For example, informed consent requires professional interpreters; in contrast, on-site interpreters, regardless of training, often are preferred over professional remote interpreters when emotional support is needed.…”

Understanding new hybrid professions: Bourdieu,illusioand the case of public service interpreters

“…However, some tragic miscarriages of justice in the last two decades of the 20th century prompted ethical and human rights concerns in relation to immigrants' access to services, especially the right to a fair trial (Corsellis, 2008). These concerns were further supported by evidence about the stressful responsibilities that language brokering placed on children (Cohen et al, 1999). On the political plane, attitudes to immigrants were also shifting, with less emphasis on assimilation and moves towards a multicultural approach in many countries.…”

Child language brokering in schools: Why does it matter?

“…(BPS, 2008, p. 6) Partly because of the limited availability of professional interpreters and partly because of family preferences this absolute position is widely ignored by other professions in health care settings. For example, a survey of 38 GPs in East London by Cohen, Moran-Ellis and Smaje (1999) indicated that the majority had undertaken recent consultations with adult patients where a child had undertaken the role of informal interpreter. When Free, Green, Bhavani and Newman (2003) interviewed 77 young people in London, the experiences of health care interpreting that they reported included not only translating instructions on medicines and helping complete surgery registration forms but also interpreting in hospital, dental and general practice settings.…”