While we are on the topic of language, I thought it would be good to bring up how it is affecting health care, especially Spanish. In medical ethics, we have been talking a lot about this recently. The main issue is the problem of translators- how do we communicate the right medical information while maintaining confidentiality and make sure everyone is completely informed?
Recently, there has been issues especially in smaller towns with medical care and the Spanish speaking population. I cannot remember where or when this happened, but in some small town there was a lot of racial tension because of the influx of illegal immigrants.... it got so bad that several people actually died because the health care workers either turned them away from the emergency room or did not understand the severity of their problems.
Another issue that is huge is translating signs and medical waivers and information-- some hospitals argue that due to funding, they are unable to translate information because it is "expensive." This country is facing a lot of health care reform, and I think it is necessary for the general public to understand how unethical it is for health care workers to not be able to communicate with their patients! Translators and translated information needs to be the norm, not an exception. It is absolutely tragic that people have to die because of a language barrier in one of the most developed countries in the world.
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First I just want to say I do not believe that anyone should be deprived or a necessity such as health care. I think that steps should be taken to strengthen the connection between the health care system as well as other entities such as education in order to prevent problems with immigrants. I also want to say that I am sympathetic to those illegal immigrants that are running from poverty and deprivation. I also want to say that it is important to learn language because that is how society functions, through shared symbols, but i do not think that we should be oblivious to languages of others.
ReplyDeleteBut... to play devils advocate I can understand how the health care system is struggling to accommodate for these new wave immigrants, especially those who come illegally. For indigent people, which I think we can agree illegal immigrants would fall under, the system is based off tax dollars. Some may say providing health care to those who do not file taxes aka those here illegally does not give them privileges to use our facilities or reap the benefits of those who do pay for the health care services. Also, it is extremely expensive to ass translators to a hospital staff and budget when most of the money is going to care. I realize this is a cliché because without the translators how can they actually accommodate for the individuals but without the supplies how could they either.
This is not to say that those who came legally should be denied services due to their language though. There in lies the problem. How do we help all people without using other peoples money while breaching a language barrier. It is a very hard concept to deal with or try to fix.